Witkoff says Europe will join the next Ukraine talks as the Kremlin says Trump and Putin will meet at APEC in China
After meeting Putin in Moscow, the US envoy said Europeans will take part in the next round, while Moscow says work is under way on a three-way meeting with Xi.
US envoy Steve Witkoff said Europeans will join the next round of Ukraine peace talks after he and Jared Kushner met Vladimir Putin1,5.
“The Europeans will join at the next meeting, which we think is a very big deal, because it’s important, they are our partners,” Witkoff said1.
Witkoff said Putin is open to Europe joining the talks1.
The envoys had asked Putin to include Europe in the peace process2.
Putin told the envoys that Europe should figure out whether it wants peace or war3.
The Kremlin said Trump and Putin will discuss a Ukraine settlement during a meeting in China6.
The talks in Moscow followed two days of trilateral negotiations between US, Russian and Ukrainian delegations5.
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Background and the APEC meeting
The envoys arrived in Moscow one day after mediating talks in Abu Dhabi between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, as Washington sought new momentum in its peace efforts2,4.
Ushakov said for the Kremlin that work is under way on a trilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping7.
Ushakov had said earlier that the leaders may also hold trilateral talks with Xi during the conference6.
The US is working to organise a meeting of Trump, Xi and Putin on the sidelines of the APEC summit8.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed a potential meeting between their leaders and Putin9,10.
These are statements by the Kremlin and US officials about plans; none of the leaders has confirmed a three-way meeting7,8.
A meeting in China would bring Trump and Putin together face to face at the summit6,7.
Why it matters to investors
A meeting of the US, Chinese and Russian leaders would put the war, sanctions and trade on the same table8,9.
Europe has been seeking a seat at the Ukraine talks7.
Witkoff described Europe’s participation as a very big deal1.
Investors will watch for the date of the next round of talks and whether Europeans attend1,5.
They will also watch whether the trilateral meeting is confirmed at APEC7,8.
Because the APEC summit is being held in China, a trilateral meeting there would give Beijing a role in the diplomacy over Ukraine7,8.
Sources
- Putin open to Europe joining Ukraine peace talks, says Witkoff - POLITICO, politico.eu (2026-11-12)
- In Moscow, Witkoff and Kushner Ask Putin to Include Europe in Peace Talks, nytimes.com (2026-11-12)
- US envoys Witkoff and Kushner meet Putin in Moscow - POLITICO, politico.com (2026-11-12)
- U.S. envoys meet with Putin in the Kremlin after Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi - NPR, npr.org (2026-11-12)
- US Envoy Says Europe To Join Next Peace Talks After Putin Meeting, rferl.org (2026-11-12)
- Trump, Putin to discuss Ukraine peace settlement during meeting in China, Kremlin says, kyivindependent.com (2026-11-12)
- Trump, Putin to Meet at APEC in China as Europe Seeks Seat at Ukraine Talks - Kyiv Post, kyivpost.com (2026-11-12)
- U.S. preparing trilateral meeting between Trump, putin , and Xi Jinping : when it might take place?, ukranews.com (2026-11-12)
- US, China Call Adds Momentum to Potential Summit With Russia - Bloomberg.com, bloomberg.com (2026-11-12)
- US and China Discuss Possible Trilateral Summit With Russia - Kyiv Post, kyivpost.com (2026-11-12)
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