Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised the possibility on Saturday of a three-way gathering that would include Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the G20 Summit in December and a venue in the United States forming the backdrop he had in mind, though he noted that neither Moscow nor Washington had yet confirmed their participation.

Writing via a post on X, Zelenskyy described the United States as an active participant in the ongoing talks between Russia and Ukraine, adding that any additional diplomatic leverage directed at the conflict should be aimed at Moscow rather than at Kyiv. He conveyed a willingness to attend peace negotiations at any location and in any format, and noted that the side involved in American-led diplomacy had indicated a session could be arranged as early as the following week — and that the particular negotiating channel would go forward.

Zelenskyy expressed an expectation that allies would direct greater diplomatic pressure toward Putin rather than toward Ukraine, adding that any other arrangement would represent an unequal distribution of responsibility. Talks with the American delegation are anticipated, with both sides open to convening either on Ukrainian soil or at a venue elsewhere in Europe. He indicated a readiness to hold talks in any configuration — bilateral, trilateral, or involving five or more parties — and extended an open invitation for the other side to arrange a venue on their own soil.

Achieving a state of calm and stability, Zelenskyy stated, stands as the priority. He noted that a communication from the American side had indicated a meeting between the two parties was possible as early as the following week.

Zelenskyy also noted that the American side had floated the idea of a three-way gathering drawing in both Russia and Ukraine, with possible host locations ranging from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to a European nation or the United States, timed around the forthcoming G20 Summit. No confirmation had yet come from either Russia or the United States, and a potential meeting with Putin remained under active discussion on the American side.

A three-party meeting has been put forward as a possibility. A venue somewhere across the Middle East has been floated as a possible location for the talks, and in its diplomatic communications, Washington has repeatedly brought up the UAE and Saudi Arabia. A face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in the United States has also been raised as an option. Neither Moscow nor Washington has issued an official statement on the matter. Europe has been named among the locations where the gathering might be held, and European officials have reportedly begun reaching out to initiate dialogue on the matter.

"Things will become clearer before long," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy put forward the idea that European nations chart an independent course in any talks held with Russia. He indicated openness to meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on questions of maritime and food security involving representatives from Middle Eastern nations, adding that, in his view, European countries should develop their own infrastructure and a distinct negotiating channel with Russia. Diplomatic and other channels for bringing the conflict to an end, officials noted, remain open for exploration.

Separate discussions with Türkiye are also planned. The Ukrainian president noted that separate conversations were planned — one with President Erdoğan covering maritime and food security matters, and another with representatives from Middle Eastern nations.

Zelenskyy used a separate post to voice his objection to the decision by President Donald Trump to exempt major purchasers of Russian oil from the 100 per cent tariff penalties outlined under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. On Friday, Trump signed an Executive Order bearing the name of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, with the order taking effect alongside a set of waivers covering certain sanctions and additional duties contained within that legislation.

Zelenskyy commented on a newly disclosed fuel agreement between the two countries, saying the easing of sanctions on Russia appeared set to remain in place. He noted that the late Senator Lindsey Graham had consistently advocated for maximum aid to Ukraine, and that the policy shift toward easing pressure on Russia appeared to move away from that position.

The diesel agreement and the action taken on the Lindsey Graham Act have been characterised by some as the opening moves in a broader sequence of developments rather than the conclusion of one. Zelenskyy described Graham as a consistent advocate for providing Ukraine with the greatest possible level of aid.

Zelenskyy argued that reversing the legislation — which had drawn backing from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers — would not end the fighting but would instead hand Russia a political advantage, adding that operating without that support had become a genuine burden. He extended gratitude toward legislators from both parties who lent their support to the measure, noting that the cross-party backing pointed to the significance of the result.

Some observers have noted that the arrangement appears to serve Russian interests. According to that view, such acts reinforce the resolve of those who benefit from them. Zelenskyy stated that hostilities had not been brought to a halt by the proposed measure.

Approximately one month after signing the legislation, Trump opted to leave several fuel-trade penalties tied to the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act unenforced against Russia. Under the proposed measure, duties reaching as high as 100 per cent would have been applied to goods flowing into the United States from whichever five countries ranked among the top buyers of crude oil or natural gas of Russian origin — a group that encompassed both India and China.

The timing of the move coincided with an unconfirmed diesel supply arrangement involving Russia, at a period when pump prices across the country were drawing attention with the November midterm vote approaching. Citing Section 115 of the Graham Act — a provision that gives the president authority to lift sanctions requirements, personal restrictions, and duties set out under the legislation — Trump exercised that waiver power and, per the order, notified Congress through both a certification that doing so served the national interest and a report laying out the reasoning behind that certification, as called for under subsection 115(b). Duties falling under Sections 112 and 113 of the Act were set aside as well.

Under those provisions, tariffs on Russian-origin goods entering the country could be set at rates reaching 500 per cent of the merchandise's assessed value. Tariffs of as much as 100 per cent ad valorem were also set out for goods arriving from the five nations that import the greatest volumes of crude oil or natural gas of Russian origin.

A deal disclosed by Trump involving Russia covered an initial consignment of over 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel, with a further 500,000 tonnes scheduled for delivery across November and an additional one million tonnes to follow directly after that.

At the same news conference, Trump expressed a desire to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to a close, adding that both Putin and Zelenskyy had indicated they were open to ending the fighting. Trump stated that he was familiar with the details of the matter and that the specifics would be made public at a later point. He expressed a desire for the conflict to conclude, citing reported figures of roughly 25,000 military personnel lost per month, and noted that the figure had stood at 32,000 troops the previous month. Trump also noted that he maintains working contact with both leaders and expressed a belief that a resolution will come. Any prospect of carving out a buffer zone along the Russian border was raised as a topic for possible peace talks with Ukraine.