--- title: "Kremlin Does Not Rule Out Trilateral Talks on Ukraine in October: What Peskov and Ushakov Said" description: "Peskov stated that Russia does not rule out trilateral talks on Ukraine in October 2026. Kyiv confirmed a plan for the same month, but the meeting venue has not been named." date: 2026-09-13T09:26:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kremlin-trilateral-talks-ukraine-october-2026 tags: [ukraine-russia-talks, kremlin, trilateral-negotiations, zelensky, putin, g20, peskov] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Kremlin Does Not Rule Out Trilateral Talks on Ukraine in October: What Peskov and Ushakov Said ![Dmitry Ushakov against a blue backdrop: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister on possible trilateral Ukraine talks in October](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/13/kremlin-trilateral-talks-ukraine-october-2026/kremlin-trilateral-talks-ukraine-october-2026-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Peskov stated that Russia does not rule out trilateral talks on Ukraine in October 2026 - Ushakov emphasized that Moscow's demands "remain unchanged" and have not been hardened - Budanov confirmed the plan for a new round in October in a trilateral format, but did not name the venue - Peskov called Zelensky's proposal to meet with Putin at the G20 in December "impossible" For the first time in such candid terms, the Kremlin has acknowledged the possibility of resuming the negotiation track on ending the war against Ukraine in a trilateral format. As RBC-Ukraine reports, citing TASS, the official spokesman for the Russian leader, Dmitry Peskov, stated that Moscow "does not rule out the possibility of trilateral talks on Ukraine taking place in October." The statement came against the backdrop of Kyiv already confirming its readiness for a new round of dialogue within the same time window, making October 2026 a key month for a potential diplomatic de-escalation. ### The Kremlin's Position: "We Do Not Rule Out" Peskov's phrasing — "we do not rule out" — traditionally in Russian diplomatic practice means that no decision has been made, but technical and political preparations for a contact are permissible. The Kremlin spokesman did not specify the composition of participants, the format (direct or through intermediaries), or the venue of the meeting, limiting himself to noting the trilateral nature of the possible consultations. This leaves room for maneuver: Moscow can either confirm or withdraw its readiness depending on the course of hostilities and Washington's reaction.### Ushakov: Demands "Remain Unchanged" On the same day, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov attempted to dispel questions about an alleged hardening of Moscow's positions. In his words, "the demands remain unchanged, there is no hardening whatsoever," and the Kremlin's position boils down to the fact that these demands "will sooner or later, and preferably sooner, be met." Thus, Russia is effectively stating that it is ready to talk, but only on terms it has already voiced, and it has no intention of revising them under the pressure of the negotiation process. ### Kyiv's Position: October and the Trilateral Format From the Ukrainian side, the signal was synchronous. On the eve of Peskov's statements, the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov, announced that a new round of peace negotiations is planned for October 2026 in a trilateral format. However, when answering a RBC-Ukraine correspondent's question about whether a meeting would take place in the Middle East, Budanov did not specify the venue of the potential talks, indicating that the logistics and location have not yet been officially fixed. ### The G20 and Bilateral Meeting Question A separate line of dialogue is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's proposal to meet publicly with Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in December 2026. The Kremlin's reaction to this initiative was categorical: Peskov stated that such a bilateral meeting is "impossible." Thus, Moscow separates the permissible trilateral format in October from what it considers an impermissible bilateral contact on the G20 platform. ### Contradictory Data There are a number of inconsistencies in the statements of the parties that are important to take into account. First, regarding the format of October: Kyiv speaks of a "planned" round, whereas Moscow merely "does not rule out" its holding — that is, the degree of commitment differs between the parties. Second, the venue of the talks remains uncertain: Budanov neither confirmed nor denied the question about the Middle East, so any claims about a specific location are currently unsubstantiated. Third, Ushakov claims the "unchanged nature of the demands" without disclosing their list, which makes it impossible to independently verify whether they align with what Ukraine considers acceptable for starting a dialogue. Until the composition, date, and venue are officially confirmed, all the parameters listed remain at the level of intentions. Bottom line: October 2026 becomes the window in which both sides allow for trilateral contact, yet neither has fixed a date, a venue, or the full composition of participants. The key indicator of a real shift will be the emergence of concrete diplomatic signals — invitations, visits by mediators, or a coordinated calendar — of which there is currently no official confirmation. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Putin's chances of holding trilateral talks on Ukraine assessed](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/putina-otsinili-shansi-provedennya-tristoronnih-1789291338.html) - Основной источник: заявление Пескова о том, что РФ не исключает трехсторонних переговоров в октябре, и контекст заявлений Буданова и Зеленского. - [Peskov: Russia hopes for a swift resumption of talks with the US and Ukraine](https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8952945) - Контекст: позиция Пескова о возобновлении переговорного трека с участием США и Украины. - [Peskov explained until when Russia had not been striking everything in Ukraine](https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2026/09/13/29308855.shtml) - Вспомогательный контекст по заявлениям Пескова 13.09.2026; не является прямым подтверждением темы переговоров. - [Kremlin names possible timeframe for trilateral talks on Ukraine](https://360.ru/news/mir/v-kremle-nazvali-vozmozhnyj-srok-trehstoronnih-peregovorov-po-ukraine/) - Подтверждает указание Кремля на октябрь как возможный срок трехсторонних переговоров. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: When, according to the Kremlin, could the trilateral talks on Ukraine take place? **A:** Peskov stated that Russia does not rule out their holding in October 2026. ### Q: Did Kyiv confirm this timeframe? **A:** Yes, the head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov, said that a new round in a trilateral format is planned for October 2026. ### Q: Where will the talks take place? **A:** The venue has not been confirmed. To the question about the Middle East, Budanov did not give a definitive answer. ### Q: What did Ushakov say about Russia's demands? **A:** He stated that the demands "remain unchanged," "there is no hardening whatsoever," and Moscow would like them to be met. ### Q: Is a meeting between Zelensky and Putin at the G20 in December possible? **A:** Peskov called such a bilateral meeting "impossible."