Witkoff meets Putin in St. Petersburg; Russia to resume three-way talks after Nov. 10
In short
US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg for about three hours on Wednesday, a day after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo. Putin's aide Yury Ushakov said Russia would be ready to resume Russia-US-Ukraine talks after Nov. 10. Russia also released American Stephen Hubbard during the visit.
Read the full story 2 min read
US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday for about three hours, the Kremlin said. Putin's aide Yury Ushakov told reporters that Putin agreed in principle to restart Russia-US-Ukraine talks after Nov. 10, and said the talks would focus on building a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends. Ushakov said the next round could take place in Abu Dhabi. [ 8 , 10 ]
The meeting followed a Tuesday summit in Oslo, where Witkoff met Zelensky, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and officials from European countries, the EU and NATO. Jared Kushner took part remotely. A US official said Ukraine brought forward new ideas and proposals, and that the parties made meaningful progress in aligning on an approach to engaging Russia. Zelensky said Witkoff would share security guarantees in a document with Russian negotiators. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Ushakov said the proposals that emerged from Oslo contained little of real value for resolving the Ukrainian crisis. A US readout cited by CNN said the trilateral meeting proposed by Witkoff and Kushner was accepted by Ukrainians in Oslo and by Russians in St. Petersburg. Witkoff described both meetings as constructive on X and said discussions would continue with the trilateral talks. [ 8 , 10 ]
Zelensky said he would like the trilateral meeting to happen no later than the beginning of November, adding that Russia has said many times it is ready to meet before things changed and got cancelled. The Seattle Times noted that representatives of the three countries held three rounds of talks earlier this year, in Abu Dhabi in January and February and in Geneva in February, and that the new round would be the first since February. [ 8 , 10 ]
Russia also freed Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan who had been detained in Ukraine in April 2022. Witkoff thanked Putin and called him a "humanitarian", and said the release was not part of an exchange. Vice President JD Vance said he agreed with Witkoff's praise. Asked about the remark, Trump said "I guess you could say for that particular purpose" but "I wouldn't say anything one way or the other." [ 13 , 15 , 21 ]
CNBC reported that the talks came amid heightened tensions between the US and Ukraine, with Trump and Zelensky trading public criticism. Zelensky has argued that Washington's easing of sanctions on Russia risks prolonging the conflict. Overnight before the meeting, Russia struck energy and civilian targets across Ukraine, according to local media reports cited by CNBC. [ 15 ]
Why it matters
The meeting could set up the first three-way negotiations since February, according to the Seattle Times. CNBC reported that the talks came amid heightened tensions between the US and Ukraine.
Key facts
- Witkoff met Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday; the Kremlin said the talks lasted about three hours. [ 8 , 10 ]
- Ushakov said Putin agreed in principle to resume trilateral Russia-US-Ukraine talks after Nov. 10; he said the next round could take place in Abu Dhabi. [ 8 , 10 ]
- On Tuesday Witkoff attended talks in Oslo with Zelensky, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and European, EU and NATO representatives. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Jared Kushner took part in the Oslo talks remotely and was due to join the Russia talks virtually. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher held in Russia since 2022, was released on Wednesday. [ 13 , 21 ]
- Witkoff said on X that Hubbard's release was not part of an exchange. [ 13 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Witkoff met Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, a day after the Oslo talks with Zelensky and European leaders. [ 5 , 8 , 10 , 19 ]
- Russia said it was ready to resume trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine after Nov. 10, according to Ushakov. [ 8 , 10 ]
- Russia released Stephen Hubbard during Witkoff's visit, and Witkoff thanked Putin for it. [ 13 , 15 , 21 ]
- Witkoff called Putin a "humanitarian" during the meeting. [ 13 , 21 ]
- Zelensky said on Tuesday that Oslo discussions covered security guarantees that Witkoff would share with the Russians. [ 4 , 15 ]
Still unclear
- What Russia would demand in a post-war security framework. CNN said Ushakov offered no further details on what Russia would demand.
- Whether the three-way meeting will take place, and when and where. Ushakov said Abu Dhabi was possible and Putin agreed only in principle after Nov. 10; Zelensky wants it no later than the beginning of November and said earlier Russian commitments were cancelled.
- How Russia assesses the Oslo proposals. The Seattle Times reported Ushakov saying they contained little of real value, while the US readout, as reported by CNN, said the trilateral meeting was accepted by the Russians.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Axios reported on Oct. 19 that Witkoff was travelling to Oslo and planned a trip to Russia. [ 1 ]
- Bloomberg reported on Oct. 20 Støre's statement that Witkoff would fly to St. Petersburg on Wednesday after the Oslo talks. [ 2 ]
- Axios reported on Oct. 20 that Witkoff would present Putin with an updated proposal in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. [ 5 ]
- ABC News reported on Oct. 21 that Witkoff had landed in St. Petersburg on Wednesday morning, a Kremlin aide confirmed, and that Hubbard was released. [ 13 ]
- Bloomberg reported on Oct. 21 that Putin began talks with Witkoff and asked him to set out the results of the Norway discussions. [ 19 ]