In brief
Vladimir Putin’s top aide Yuriy Ushakov announced that Russia is willing in principle to resume talks with the United States and Ukraine after a brief meeting in St Petersburg with US envoy Steve Witkoff. The conversation followed a month‑long pause in negotiations that began in February 2022. Ushakov said a new round could take place around 10 November and would focus on building a security framework for the post‑war era. The talks are now being seen not only as a diplomatic breakthrough but also as an opportunity to protect damaged ecosystems and restart green initiatives denied by the conflict. If successful, a ceasefire could reduce emissions from wartime activities and facilitate the return of displaced communities.
Russia is “ready in principle” to resume talks with the US and Ukraine on ending the conflict, Putin’s top aide said on Tuesday after a three‑hour meeting in St Petersburg between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin.
Ushakov, who spoke to reporters following the talk, emphasized that Kyiv had been urging Moscow to restart the trilateral talks that were paused in February. He suggested that a new round could be held next month, around 10 November.
He added that the discussion must focus on building a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends, but dismissed the ideas presented by Witkoff and the other delegations as “not very useful.”
The war, which began in February 2022 with Russia’s full‑scale invasion, has already inflicted severe damage on the region’s infrastructure and ecosystems. Even as the parties consider a potential ceasefire, environmental experts warn that renewed hostilities still threaten millions of square kilometres of forest, wetlands and agricultural land.
Any cessation of conflict would also offer a chance to reverse the spike in greenhouse‑gas emissions caused by war‑related fires and the destruction of energy infrastructure. Officials say the talks could lay the groundwork for re‑building green energy projects and restoring climate‑friendly policies in the post‑war era.
