Geopolitical Briefing by Mikhail Azhgirevich — October 21, 2026

Russia and the United States: Putin and Witkoff hold three-hour talks at Konstantinovsky Palace

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff have held three hours of talks at Konstantinovsky Palace. Witkoff handed over documents outlining approaches to a settlement following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo.

Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Russia was ready to resume trilateral talks “in the first ten days of November,” but described the new proposals from Kyiv and the European Union as of little practical value. The dialogue continues, though there is still no sign of a substantive breakthrough.

Trump wants to sign a peace deal at the G20 summit at his golf club in December

According to The Atlantic, President Donald Trump sees himself as the mediator between Putin and Zelensky at the moment a peace agreement is signed — even if that requires pressure on Kyiv. The G20 summit is scheduled for December 14–15 in Doral, Florida.

Trump’s personal ambitions have become part of the diplomatic calculation over the timing of an end to the war.

First tanker carrying Russian diesel to the United States is due to depart on October 22

A 40,000-ton tanker is set to leave ports in the Baltic Sea for the United States on October 22. The shipment follows an agreement reached between Putin and Trump on October 9.

Energy cooperation between Moscow and Washington is being restored even as the conflict remains unresolved.

Putin proposes discussing a possible meeting with Trump in China

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Putin suggested to Witkoff that a possible meeting with Trump be discussed in China. At the same time, both sides confirmed their readiness for a three-way meeting involving Putin, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in Shenzhen.

The venue for negotiations is shifting toward Asia, in parallel with the plans for Miami.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel calls drone strikes on Russia an “extremely risky strategy”

Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD), described Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia as an “extremely risky strategy.” She warned of the dangers of attacking a nuclear power and called for pressure on Zelensky to bring the war to an end.

Germany’s eurosceptic party is using the escalation to argue against continued support for Kyiv.

European Commission demands that SpaceX “urgently and fully” restore Starlink in Ukraine

The European Commission has demanded that SpaceX “urgently and fully” restore Starlink services in Ukraine. The statement came amid disruptions to communications on the front line.

Brussels has highlighted Ukraine’s dependence on its battlefield and civilian infrastructure on a private American company.