The key facts
- The Putin-Witkoff meeting is scheduled for October 21 and, according to Ushakov, was agreed in advance
- Witkoff arrived from Oslo after US consultations with Ukraine and Europe; he was met by Kirill Dmitriev
- According to Politico, Witkoff may propose to Putin a meeting with Trump and Zelensky
Kremlin: the meeting is routine
The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US leader's special envoy Steve Witkoff was agreed several days ago, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told journalists. The talks, scheduled for October 21, are of a routine nature, he said, and did not come as a surprise to the Kremlin. “For us, for those who prepared this event, there was no secret at all,” Ushakov explained.
Witkoff's arrival and the context of the trip
Witkoff arrived in St. Petersburg from Oslo. The American representative was met at the airport by the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev. The trip took place after Washington's consultations with the Ukrainian and European sides.
Results of the consultations in Oslo
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Witkoff intends to brief the Russian leadership on the results of the talks with Volodymyr Zelensky. Rubio called the meeting that took place constructive, but stressed that it did not produce any unexpected results. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said that participants in the consultations discussed territorial issues, security guarantees for Ukraine and a possible easing of sanctions against Russia; the American side plans to present the prepared proposals to Moscow.
Politico on a possible meeting of the three leaders
According to Politico, Witkoff may propose to Putin a meeting with Trump and Zelensky.
Previous contacts
On September 5, Putin had already received Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the Kremlin; the conversation lasted three hours and ten minutes, and Ushakov called it constructive and trusting. On October 9, Putin and Donald Trump discussed the Ukrainian settlement by phone — the sides confirmed their intention to maintain direct contacts and continue interaction between the relevant agencies.
