Putin meets US envoy Witkoff in St Petersburg, says first diesel tanker to sail to US
In short
Russian President Putin met US presidential envoy Witkoff in St Petersburg on 21 October. Putin said the first tanker with 40,000 tonnes of diesel for the US would sail within two to three days, and Witkoff handed over a US document on settling the Ukraine conflict and asked Russia to consider resuming three-way talks with the US and Ukraine.
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Russian President Putin met US presidential envoy Witkoff at the Konstantin Palace in St Petersburg on 21 October, according to CCTV News as carried by Yicai and Jiemian, and Xinhua. Witkoff gave Putin a document setting out US ideas for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Xinhua reported. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Xinhua reported that Putin said at the start of the meeting that he had stressed to US President Trump in several conversations the need to end the conflict quickly, and that it had caused losses to both military personnel and civilians. Putin thanked Trump for his attention to the Ukraine issue and asked about the results of the earlier talks in Norway. [ 2 , 5 ]
On economics, Xinhua said Putin stated that both Russia and the US are willing to discuss restoring bilateral relations and economic cooperation. Under the Russia-US diesel supply agreement, he said, several tankers are ready, and the first will sail within "two to three days" with 40,000 tonnes of diesel, with later tankers to follow. He added that Russia can supply large quantities of fertiliser to the US market. CLS reported earlier that Putin told Witkoff Russia intends to restore economic relations with the US, and later that the Kremlin said the two discussed joint economic projects. Jiemian, citing CCTV, said Witkoff thanked Putin on Trump's behalf for Putin's decision on the diesel deal. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Witkoff told Putin the Oslo talks on Ukraine had been productive and made some progress, Xinhua reported. He asked Russia to consider restarting Russia-US-Ukraine three-way talks to discuss technical issues, and said Russia and the US have potential for economic cooperation once the conflict ends. Yicai, citing CCTV, also quoted Witkoff as saying a certain basis now exists that could help push toward a ceasefire. Xinhua added that Witkoff thanked Putin for Russia's release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard, who had been held in Russia. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Putin also said he wanted to know about the situation concerning Iran and that Russia was ready to help resolve the conflict, according to Yicai citing CCTV; Xinhua likewise reported that Russia is following the Iran situation and is willing to assist. [ 2 , 5 ]
Before going to Russia, Witkoff met Ukrainian President Zelensky, Norway's prime minister and Finland's president in Oslo on 20 October to coordinate positions on the peace proposal to be put to Russia. Representatives of Britain, France, Germany, Poland, the EU and NATO joined an enlarged meeting by video. US officials said Ukraine offered new ideas and suggestions, that there was "substantive progress", and that the participants reached "a high degree of consensus at working level" on next steps. Zelensky said on 20 October that the Oslo talks discussed the possibility of a meeting of the US, Russian and Ukrainian leaders. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The outlets report the meeting as covering both the Ukraine settlement and US-Russia economic ties, including a diesel supply agreement. Whether the US document or the proposed three-way talks lead anywhere is not stated in the documents.
Key facts
- Putin met US presidential envoy Witkoff at the Konstantin Palace in St Petersburg on 21 October. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- Witkoff gave Putin a document setting out US ideas for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Putin said the first tanker carrying 40,000 tonnes of diesel to the US would sail within "two to three days", with more tankers to follow. [ 5 , 7 ]
- Witkoff asked Russia to consider resuming three-way talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Before travelling to Russia, Witkoff held talks in Oslo on 20 October with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Norway's prime minister and Finland's president. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Putin said Russia can supply large quantities of fertiliser to the US market. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Putin and Witkoff met in St Petersburg on 21 October, and Witkoff handed over a US document on resolving the Ukraine conflict. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Witkoff called for the resumption of Russia-US-Ukraine three-way talks. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Witkoff met Zelensky, Norway's prime minister and Finland's president in Oslo on 20 October to coordinate positions on a peace proposal for Russia. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Putin said the first diesel tanker for the US would sail within two to three days, carrying 40,000 tonnes. [ 5 , 7 ]
- Witkoff said Russia and the US have prospects for economic cooperation after the Ukraine conflict ends. [ 3 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- What the US document proposes for resolving the Ukraine conflict. The documents say it was handed over but do not describe its contents.
- Whether Russia will agree to resume three-way talks. The documents report Witkoff's request but no Russian answer.
- Which joint economic projects were discussed. CLS cited the Kremlin as saying joint economic projects were discussed, but gave no details.
- Whether a basis for a ceasefire in Ukraine now exists. Only Yicai, citing CCTV, reports Witkoff saying a certain basis exists to push for a ceasefire; the other documents do not include this.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reported Putin told Witkoff that Russia intends to restore economic relations with the US. [ 1 ]
- Yicai, citing CCTV, reported on the Putin-Witkoff talks at the Konstantin Palace. [ 2 ]
- Xinhua reported Putin's statement that the first diesel tanker would sail within two to three days. [ 5 ]
- CLS reported the Kremlin said Putin and Witkoff discussed joint economic projects. [ 6 ]