US House Speaker Says Trilateral Ukraine Talks Are Close

US House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday, October 26, that Washington is planning trilateral talks to end Russia's war against Ukraine. He spoke in an interview quoted by Bloomberg.

Johnson said he spoke over the weekend with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told him about the plans. "They are working to put an end" to the war, he said, adding that the sides are "on the verge" of trilateral negotiations.

He noted that the situation has many components and that the US administration is doing everything it can to end the conflict. At the same time, Johnson stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted and that the United States must act accordingly.

Where the peace track stands

In early October, Putin said he was ready to resume peace talks as soon as possible, but on terms acceptable to Russia. He spoke of the occupation of all of Donbas, neutral status for Ukraine, security guarantees for Russia and "conditions for lasting peace".

On October 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is ready for a deal that freezes the war along the current front line, but will not recognise the "temporarily occupied territory as Russian". More world news is in our World section.