Russia expressed readiness to resume trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States, marking a potential turning point in the ongoing conflict. Following a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff and the release of detained American citizen Stephen Hubbard, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that there was little substance in peace proposals brought by Witkoff. Nevertheless, Witkoff emphasized the "constructive" nature of the talks, noting that further discussions would take place at the technical level. A summit between Putin, Trump, and President Xi Jinping is also in the planning stages for next month, marking a historic event according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv, have continued, resulting in at least four deaths in recent days. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, reiterated Russia's commitment to occupying the rest of eastern Ukraine, contradicting the optimism of Russian readiness for talks. Despite the apparent move towards engagement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova emphasized that the trilateral meeting was merely a "momentary distraction," suggesting that there is no significant shift in the conflict's trajectory. In response to international pressure, US President Donald Trump downplayed the conflict's severity, extending a request to delay sanctions on Russia's war machine to secure the release of Hubbard. Zelensky, echoing a stance of openness, supported resuming the trilateral talks, indicating cooperation despite the ongoing military confrontation.