US Envoy Witkoff Meets Putin After 'Positive' Talks with Zelensky

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, held talks on Wednesday in St. Petersburg regarding a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, following a meeting between the US negotiator and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

At the outset of the meeting, shortly after 09:00 GMT, Witkoff said he had arrived with “ideas” for a “peace agreement” in Ukraine, nearly five years after the conflict erupted with Russia’s large-scale invasion in 2022. In opening remarks broadcast on state television, he said, “We have brought some documents, which are in fact some ideas regarding the different elements of a type of peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, and you can read them when it suits you.”

On the sidelines of the meeting, Russia announced the release of an American who had been sentenced in 2024 to seven years in prison for “fighting as a mercenary” on behalf of Ukraine, a charge he denies, as well as the imminent departure of the first tanker carrying Russian diesel to the United States.

Trump, who had previously announced that he had asked his Russian counterpart to release the retired teacher, said on Wednesday that Hubbard was “on his way” to the United States and had been freed without a “quid pro quo.”

The US negotiator also viewed economic cooperation between Moscow and Washington as reflecting “the potential available to us in the future.”

Putin stated that the first tanker carrying 40,000 tons of Russian diesel to the United States would set sail within “two to three days.” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, in charge of energy affairs, indicated it would depart on Thursday.

Trump had announced in early October an agreement between Washington and Moscow to supply Russian diesel to the US market, lifting sanctions imposed on Russia, a move that drew strong criticism from Kyiv and its allies.

The move was seen as an attempt to lower fuel prices for American consumers ahead of the midterm congressional elections on November 3, which are expected to be difficult for Trump.

The St. Petersburg meeting takes place amid recent tensions between Washington and Kyiv, with Ukraine accusing the United States of no longer supporting it and instead aiding Moscow.

The visit of US President Donald Trump’s special envoy is part of efforts to close the chapter on sharp disagreements between the Ukrainian and US presidents regarding the war with Russia.

Following his talks with Witkoff in Oslo, Zelenskyy thanked Washington on Tuesday for resuming the supply of intelligence regarding Russian strikes.

Zelenskyy told journalists, “We are grateful that we are exchanging intelligence information,” describing early warnings of incoming ballistic missile strikes as “very, very important for our people, for children, adults, and civilians.”

Rubio, during a visit to India, said that Witkoff “will now be able to go to St. Petersburg with these ideas and present them to the Russian side,” adding, “Let’s see if we can make some progress.”

A US official told Agence France-Presse that Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, would participate remotely in the meeting between Witkoff and Putin on Wednesday.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, fighting continues on the front lines without significant gains for either side, and US-brokered talks have so far failed to make progress toward ending the conflict.

Trump is also continuing to pressure Ukraine, stating at the White House that he wants Zelenskyy to “reach an agreement” with Russia, which is intensifying its strikes, particularly on Ukraine’s energy sector, as a harsh winter approaches.

Trump, who called on Zelensky to resign last week, criticized the Ukrainian president for not accepting terms he said he had presented to him during the famous televised altercation at the White House in February 2025.

Ukraine expressed its displeasure after Trump also exempted Moscow from sanctions, viewing this as support for Russia’s war machine.

The dispute escalated when Zelensky accused Trump of weakness, and then accused the United States of deliberately withholding vital intelligence and delaying the delivery of interceptor missiles.

Ukraine also reported a slowdown in communications via the “Starshield” system, which it relies on for its military operations against Russia. Starshield is a military-specific version of the “Starlink” satellite internet system operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Trump denied issuing an order to reduce Starshield communication speeds, after Musk stated that such an order could only come from the White House.

Rubio said on Wednesday that Washington had no prior knowledge of the slowdown in communications via SpaceX satellites.

During a visit to India, he added, “The President has no connection with the decisions made by Starlink, Starshield, and Mr. Musk.”

The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Musk was indeed the one who ordered the reduction in communication speeds in the military version of Starlink.

These meetings with Wetekoff follow intensive diplomatic efforts in Washington, Kyiv, and Western capitals aimed at ending the war.

Zelensky told members of the U.S. Senate on Monday that “the Pentagon is delaying the delivery of missiles” that European countries had already paid for, while the shipment awaits the signature of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

He added that several European countries are ready to deliver Patriot interceptor missiles from their stockpiles to his country, but they are awaiting U.S. approval.

Trump, whose Republican Party faces difficult midterm congressional elections amid rising fuel prices, accused Zelensky of not making sufficient efforts to resolve the conflict.

The U.S. president said he is prepared to meet with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China next month to discuss nuclear disarmament, adding that the talks might also address the war in Ukraine, raising concerns in Kyiv about being sidelined.

Zelensky stressed on Tuesday the necessity of Kyiv’s representation in any meeting concerning Ukraine’s future.

He said, “If there are issues concerning Ukraine and our future, they cannot be accepted unless we are present at the negotiating table.”