Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv is preparing for a trilateral meeting with the United States and Russia in the first half of November. Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Türkiye, he said the two leaders discussed the prospects for the format, as well as ways to involve Türkiye and the rest of Europe and the possibility of holding meetings in Türkiye. He argued that strong decisions are needed to bring peace and that Russia must be sent signals at every level that there is no alternative to peace and that support for Ukraine will not shrink. The Kremlin has said its own talks are planned for Abu Dhabi, and Zelenskyy has not confirmed that venue.

Zelenskyy pointed to a recent humanitarian operation in Oleshky, in the Kherson region, as evidence that de-escalation is possible when Russia is put in a position where it has to take steps toward it. The operation followed a local ceasefire in the Russian-occupied town, which the White House said was brokered with the help of US First Lady Melania Trump. Even so, Zelenskyy has said the timing of the talks depends on Russia, and the Kremlin has said resuming negotiations will not stop its strikes on Ukraine. Rubio himself said this week that it's unclear whether a negotiated peace is achievable, so a meeting is far from a breakthrough. For now, the key questions are whether Russia turns up, where the talks will be held, and whether a limited truce in one town can grow into something larger.