Ukraine Pushes for Three-Way Talks With Trump and Putin as War Costs Hit $97 Billion

Ukraine is pushing for direct three-way talks with the United States and Russia as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv supports a US proposal for negotiations involving all three countries, ideally by early November [267858]. The push comes as US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and said he hopes new talks will include Ukraine, though Moscow appears to be holding firm to its maximalist demands [267495]. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said separate discussions in Oslo involving Zelenskiy and an envoy representing Donald Trump are making progress [266994].

The diplomatic efforts unfold against a dire financial backdrop. Ukraine faces a $52 billion shortfall in its war budget, and the army needs another $45 billion — a total gap of $97 billion [262694]. Western allies are withholding billions in aid until Kyiv delivers promised reforms, including measures to reduce corruption and improve government money management [262694]. Ukraine's parliament passed a tax on cheap foreign parcels on its third attempt, aiming to unlock €3.7 billion, though Brussels must decide whether the move is sufficient as a €70 billion funding gap remains [267259].

On the anti-corruption front, Ukraine's agencies recovered $5.1 million for the state budget after detectives found funds were at risk due to inaction by a regional branch [262696]. Brussels and Kyiv are also setting up a joint task force to speed up anti-corruption reforms required for European Union membership [265157].

Militarily, Belgium has delivered 10 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, bringing the total promised Western fleet to about 100 aircraft — but fewer than 40 are currently flying, with remaining deliveries stretching through 2029 [265156]. Ukraine has asked US defense company Lockheed Martin for more ballistic missile interceptors and repairs for F-16 fighter jets, officials said [267254].

Public sentiment has shifted amid the war's pressures. A new poll found most Ukrainians oppose handing all of Donbas to Russia, with support for continuing the fight rising to 62% after Washington eased Russian sanctions and cut intelligence sharing with Kyiv [266044].

Meanwhile, the G7 pledged €260 million to repair the protective shield at Chornobyl, which a Russian drone damaged in 2025, though full repairs will require €500 million by 2030 [265158]. The European Union has paid Russia 682 million euros for steel in eight months despite sanctions, through a loophole allowing Russian steel slabs to reach Belgium and Italy until 2028 [266046].