Zelensky says US working on possible Ukraine-US-Russia leaders' meeting, with G20 in Miami among venues
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 17 that the United States is working on organizing a possible trilateral meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia, with the G20 summit in Miami among the venues under discussion alongside the UAE, Saudi Arabia or a European country. He added that neither Washington nor Moscow has confirmed such a meeting. US President Donald Trump said he does not know whether Vladimir Putin will attend the G20 summit in Miami in December, but that he would be glad to host him. The Kremlin has said Russia plans to participate in G20 work, without deciding on Putin's personal attendance.
Key points
- Zelensky said on October 17 that the US is working on a possible trilateral meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.
- Zelensky listed the G20 summit in Miami, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or a European country as venues under discussion.
- Zelensky said neither Russia nor the United States has confirmed the meeting.
- Trump said he does not know whether Putin will attend the G20 summit in Miami in December, but added he would be glad to host him.
- The G20 leaders' summit is scheduled for December 14–15, 2026 in Miami; the US invited Putin in September 2026.
- The Kremlin confirmed Russia plans to participate in G20 work but said no decision on Putin's personal attendance has been made.
- Ukrainian and US negotiators are arranging a new meeting between special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and the Ukrainian team.
Why it matters
A leaders-level meeting between Ukraine and Russia — last held in the early phase of the full-scale invasion — would mark a major diplomatic milestone in efforts to end the war. The fact that the US-hosted G20 summit in Miami is being floated as a venue raises the prospect of a high-profile encounter on American soil. Moscow's posture, including its demand for unspecified "preconditions" and its earlier insistence that any meeting take place in Moscow, remains the central obstacle, while continuing US shuttle diplomacy by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner shows Washington is still pressing for a breakthrough despite earlier pauses.
What happened
On October 17, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists that the United States is working on arranging a possible trilateral meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia. He said venues under discussion include the G20 summit in Miami in December, the UAE, Saudi Arabia or a European country, and noted that Europeans have begun contacts on the matter. Zelenskyy also said neither Russia nor the United States has confirmed the meeting. On the same day, US President Donald Trump said he does not know whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the G20 summit in Miami in December, but added he would be glad to host him. The G20 leaders' summit is scheduled for December 14–15 in Miami; the Trump administration invited Putin in September 2026, and the Kremlin has confirmed Russia will take part in G20 work without deciding on Putin's personal attendance. Ukrainian negotiators are arranging a new meeting with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian and American delegations could meet as early as the week of October 13–19.
Where reporting differs
Sources diverge on Putin's posture: the Kremlin said in September that a meeting in Miami was impossible and that Putin would only meet the Ukrainian leader in Moscow, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on September 23 that Putin is allegedly ready to meet both Trump and Zelenskyy under unspecified "preconditions." Zelenskyy for his part said he had received no confirmation of a meeting from either Russia or the United States. Separately, a Bloomberg report citing an unnamed source said that during the UN General Assembly meeting in September Trump proposed that Zelenskyy hold talks with Putin in Moscow; the Office of the President of Ukraine publicly denied this information.
Background
The G20 leaders' summit is scheduled for December 14–15 in Miami, hosted by the United States. In September 2026 the Trump administration invited Putin to attend, and the Kremlin has confirmed Russia will participate in G20 work but has not decided on Putin's personal attendance. Putin has not personally attended a G20 summit since 2019; since 2022 Russia's delegation at such meetings has been led by figures including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. In September 2026 the US resumed diplomatic efforts after a multi-month pause, with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner making separate trips to Russia and Ukraine. The Kremlin has previously rejected leader-level negotiations and offered only a meeting in Moscow. On September 23 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin was allegedly ready to meet both Trump and Zelenskyy, but only under unspecified Russian "preconditions." In September, Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly met Trump and reiterated his readiness for talks, suggesting Trump himself could organise a trilateral meeting. A Bloomberg report citing an unnamed source said Trump proposed during the UNGA meeting that Zelenskyy hold talks with Putin in Moscow; the Office of the President of Ukraine denied this.