Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg on Wednesday, as Washington intensified efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the nearly five-year-long war in Ukraine.The meeting came a day after Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway, where the two sides discussed a possible peace framework. The US envoy arrived in Russia with fresh proposals aimed at bringing Moscow and Kyiv back to the negotiating table.The discussions covered several issues beyond Ukraine, including the release of an American prisoner, renewed US-Russia economic cooperation, Russian diesel exports and the possibility of a meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump in China.
Ukraine peace proposals and trilateral talks
Witkoff presented documents outlining possible ways to settle the Ukraine conflict, according to Russian news agency Interfax. He also urged Putin to consider resuming trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States to address technical issues surrounding a potential peace agreement.A US official told CNN that Washington and Kyiv had made “meaningful progress” during Tuesday’s discussions in Norway.“Discussions covered key elements of a comprehensive peace framework, including long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, a post-war economic and prosperity plan, and a broader European security architecture designed to create lasting stability,” the official said.
Release of 74-year-old American prisoner
Russia also released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American teacher from Michigan who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.Hubbard was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison following a closed trial in 2024. Russian prosecutors alleged that he had signed a contract with the Ukrainian military after Moscow launched its invasion in February 2022 and fought alongside Ukrainian forces until his capture two months later.The Biden administration had designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained.Witkoff thanked Putin for his release, saying, “Because of you, he’s going home to his family.” Putin confirmed that Hubbard was at St Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport following his release.
Possible Putin-Trump meeting in China
Putin proposed meeting Trump in China, according to Russian state television, as quoted by Reuters. The Kremlin had previously raised the possibility of trilateral talks involving Putin, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China next month. No agreement on a meeting was immediately announced.
US-Russia economic cooperation and diesel exports
Putin also raised the possibility of restoring economic cooperation between Moscow and Washington. The discussions came as Russia prepared to dispatch its first diesel shipment to the United States on Thursday following an agreement with Trump.Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the initial shipment would carry 40,000 metric tons of diesel, with further supplies expected.“Additional shipments will follow, of course. There were agreements reached between the two leaders. We will meet the United States’ needs, to the extent of our capabilities,” Novak said, according to RIA.Witkoff also thanked Putin for lifting restrictions on Russian diesel exports, while Putin said diesel prices had declined following the agreement.
Iran war and other discussions
The two sides also discussed Russia’s willingness to help resolve the war in Iran, according to footage of the meeting reported by CNN.Potential Russian fertiliser exports to the United States were among the other issues raised during the discussions, reflecting efforts to explore broader economic engagement alongside diplomatic negotiations.
Why the meeting matters
The meeting comes at a critical juncture in Washington’s efforts to broker a settlement between Russia and Ukraine, with the two sides remaining deeply divided over territory and security guarantees.Ukraine has insisted that any peace agreement must include credible guarantees against future Russian aggression and cannot require Kyiv to surrender territory.Moscow, meanwhile, continues to demand control over the entire Donbas region, a reduction in Ukraine’s military strength and assurances that Kyiv will never join NATO.The talks also come amid growing strains between Washington and Kyiv following Trump’s decision to waive sanctions on Russia under legislation aimed at restricting Moscow’s war financing, alongside the agreement to import Russian diesel.Ahead of the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that Moscow would not make “political concessions” and said Russia did “not expect a miracle” from Witkoff’s visit.