Budanov Eyes Trilateral Ukraine Peace Talks in October

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov announced that a renewed round of peace negotiations in a trilateral format could take place in early October, focusing on de-escalating aerial strikes and securing Black Sea maritime shipping. Speaking on the sidelines of the annual Yalta European Strategy (YES 2026) forum in Kyiv, Budanov stated that direct diplomatic engagement involving Ukraine, the US, and European allies is essential to establishing a workable framework to reduce combat intensity.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “It is important that the United States and Europe take part in the negotiations,” Budanov emphasized, expressing confidence that the next negotiation track could convene next month. According to Budanov, an initial agreement would center on practical, step-by-step de-escalation measures rather than an immediate comprehensive political settlement. “The primary issue will be Black Sea maritime transit, reducing the volume of strikes against civilian objects, critical infrastructure, and similar priorities,” Budanov said. “Everyone exchanged views on this matter. The Russians are well aware of this and are also considering how to handle it. We are waiting.” The presidential chief of staff added that Ukraine and its partners must accelerate efforts to construct a durable post-war European security architecture, reiterating that Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) must constitute an indispensable component of that defense framework, as President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently advocated. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine Tests Automated Drone Warning System for Gas Stations Ukraine is testing an automated drone early warning system for gas stations following deadly Russian strikes on fuel networks, PM Koretskyi said. Consultations with European security advisers Budanov’s remarks followed high-level diplomatic discussions on the sidelines of the YES forum with European national security advisers, including Germany’s Günter Sautter, France’s Emmanuel Bonne, Italy’s Fabrizio Saggio, and the United Kingdom’s Jonathan Powell. Budanov also held an expanded bilateral meeting with the British delegation to align strategic positions and coordinate joint diplomatic responses ahead of multilateral autumn summits. The diplomatic consultations in Kyiv follow a visit the previous weekend by European national security advisers and US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who traveled overland to Kyiv following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Upcoming New York diplomatic engagements The prospect of October negotiations coincides with planned high-level diplomatic engagements scheduled for late September. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced during a visit to Canada that he expects to meet US President Donald Trump in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to clarify the next stages of the diplomatic process. “At the end of September, we will have an opportunity to meet, I think, with the American team in New York,” Zelensky said, indicating that direct talks with Trump would provide greater insight into Washington’s mediation efforts. Zelensky noted that Ukrainian and American teams maintain constant dialogue regarding energy security and Black Sea export routes. Diplomatic tracks have intensified following an hour-long phone conversation between Trump and Putin on Tuesday, Sept. 8. According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, the discussion focused on conflict resolution parameters in Ukraine, during which Putin presented battlefield assessments and outlined Moscow’s conditions for a cessation of hostilities. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.