President Donald Trump aligned with Vladimir Putin on Thursday, easing sanctions on Russia and pushing Ukraine toward trilateral peace talks as Russian missile strikes on Kyiv and other cities continued.
Putin told Russian state television he was ready to resume US-mediated talks with Ukraine in November, aiming for a final settlement on security guarantees for both countries and Europe’s broader architecture. The remarks came after a meeting in St. Petersburg with Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, who called Putin a “humanitarian” during the visit.
Hours later, Russia launched 21 ballistic missiles at Kyiv in three waves, including three carrying cluster munitions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. One person was killed in the capital, while strikes across 12 regions left at least four dead and dozens wounded, including five children. Zelenskyy said the attacks proved “no real change” in Moscow’s stance and that Russia was exploiting a slowdown in Western air defense support.
Trump’s shift has included a diesel supply deal with Russia and waiving sanctions, moves that European officials say undermine Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told the European Parliament that American negotiators had long tried to push Ukraine into surrender, while a senior European official described Trump’s approach as “terrifying,” adding that the US was offering Putin lucrative deals to end the war.
Zelenskyy has resisted pressure, insisting Ukraine will not cede territory and demanding more Patriot missile interceptors and sustained sanctions. He also confirmed talks could begin after November 10, though no date has been set. The US has proposed the United Arab Emirates as a possible venue.
