Recent US diplomatic initiatives have revived trilateral talks at the negotiating-team level between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, with sessions possibly beginning in November in locations such as Abu Dhabi. These developments have not yet produced direct leader-level engagement between President Zelenskyy and President Putin. Persistent gaps on territorial control, security guarantees, and meeting formats continue to block bilateral summits, as Russia has repeatedly conditioned any direct encounter on terms rejected by Kyiv. The ongoing military conflict and absence of a ceasefire further reduce the near-term likelihood of a leaders’ meeting. A breakthrough in the upcoming technical talks or a shift in preconditions could still open pathways for a summit before 2027.