Article · Geopolitics
Putin agrees "in principle" to return to three-way talks after 10 November. In the night to 23 October, more than 500,000 Ukrainians lost power
On 2026-10-21, after a meeting of about three hours with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Vladimir Putin agrees "in principle" to resume three-way talks with the US and Ukraine after 10 November (AP). According to AP, these could be the first such talks since February. The day before, Witkoff met Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Finnish and Norwegian leaders in Oslo. In the night to 2026-10-23, Russian strikes on energy facilities left more than 500,000 people without power in six regions, according to Ukraine's Energy Ministry.
On 2026-10-19 we wrote about Starlink restrictions on the Ukrainian army, and on 2026-10-20 about the pause in US intelligence sharing. Three things have changed since: Zelenskyy says intelligence sharing has resumed, the US envoy met both sides within two days, and the Kremlin named a time for returning to the table; according to AP, these could be the first such talks since February. Below we separate what was said, what was done and what is only promised.