Person

Dmitry Peskov

1. Follow-up: Zelensky says Ukraine-Russia-US three-way talks will be held in November; Kremlin says venue is in the Gulf

   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a television interview on Sunday, Oct 25, that Kyiv, Washington and Moscow will hold three-way talks in November to restart stalled peace negotiations, saying territorial issues should be handled at leaders' level and other matters by technical groups. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Oct 23 that the talks were planned for November in the Gulf region. US envoy Steve Witkoff met Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo on Oct 20 and Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Oct 21, after which both Kyiv and Moscow said they were willing to resume direct talks with US mediation.

   Oct 26, 2026 Morning
2. Russia cabinet reshuffle: Mishustin proposes Siluanov and Kozhemyako as deputy prime ministers

   The Kremlin press service and Meduza reported that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin met Vladimir Putin on Monday morning and proposed a cabinet reshuffle: Finance Minister Anton Siluanov would also become deputy prime minister, a post he held from 2018 to 2020; Primorsky Krai Governor Oleg Kozhemyako would become deputy PM and presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, replacing Yuri Trutnev; Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin would become deputy PM, succeeded by Rosaviatsia head Dmitry Yadrov; and First Deputy Finance Minister Irina Okladnikova would become deputy PM and head of the government apparatus, replacing Dmitry Grigorenko. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin supported the proposals, which under the constitution require State Duma approval.

   Oct 20, 2026 Morning
3. Wall Street Journal: Putin proposed Trump-Xi-Putin summit to settle Ukraine's future

   CNBC, citing the Wall Street Journal on Oct 19, reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed in an Oct 9 call with Donald Trump a three-way summit with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to reach an agreement ending the Ukraine war, according to a former Russian intelligence official briefed on the call. The summit is not set; if held, Zelensky would not attend, and a possible venue is the November APEC summit in Shenzhen; the same call also led to a deal allowing Russia to sell diesel on global markets. TASS reported Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Oct 19 that Russia, the US and China all recognise a three-way meeting is possible but have no clear agenda yet.

   Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon
4. Follow-up: Trump blames French riot violence on immigration; Kremlin calls meddling claims 'absurd'

   Cost-of-living protests across France on Oct 17 turned into looting and arson. RFI reported that US President Donald Trump said on Oct 18 the violence should be blamed on immigration and urged France to tighten related rules. RIA Novosti reported Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Oct 19 that claims Russia stirred European unrest were 'absurd accusations' that 'even Europe itself does not take seriously'. The Sydney Morning Herald reported young people in black hoodies and balaclavas still gathered at Place de la République on the afternoon of Oct 18. The NFL said on Oct 18 that the New Orleans Saints–Pittsburgh Steelers game would still be held as planned on Oct 25 at Stade de France, the league's first regular-season game in France.

   Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon