The key facts
- Marco Rubio refused to disclose details of the new US proposal on Ukraine, which Steve Witkoff brought to the talks with Putin.
- Earlier, Witkoff held talks with Zelensky in Oslo, where security guarantees, economic issues and mechanisms for ending hostilities were discussed.
- Rubio named the territorial issue, primarily disagreements over Donbas, as the main obstacle in the negotiations.
US Not Revealing Contents of New Ukraine Plan
The United States does not intend to disclose the contents of the new proposals for resolving the Ukrainian conflict, which Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff brought to negotiations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. This was stated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio while speaking with journalists in India. When asked to reveal details of the updated American plan, the head of the State Department replied briefly: 'No, I'm not going to.'
Diplomacy Scheme: From Oslo to Moscow
Rubio explained that Witkoff first held talks with Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo, where the sides exchanged ideas regarding a possible peace agreement. Now the American representative is to present these proposals to Moscow and find out which of them the Russian side is ready to discuss. According to the Secretary of State, this is exactly how such diplomacy works: intermediaries pass proposals between the parties to the conflict, study their reactions and try to gradually narrow the differences.
The Main Obstacle — the Territorial Issue
Rubio acknowledged that the negotiations remain extremely difficult. He named the territorial issue as the main obstacle, primarily the disagreements over Donbas. In his assessment, to reach an agreement both sides will have to make certain concessions. The head of the State Department called the meeting held in Norway positive, emphasizing that it brought no surprises. Washington hopes that after discussing the proposals with the Russian side it will be possible to achieve further progress in the negotiation process.
Witkoff's Visit to Saint Petersburg
On October 21, Steve Witkoff arrived in Saint Petersburg for a meeting with Vladimir Putin. As aide to the President of the Russian Federation Yuri Ushakov clarified, the main topic of the negotiations will be the Ukrainian settlement. The meeting was arranged a few days before the visit; the Russian side is also represented by the head of the RDIF, Kirill Dmitriev.
Reaction of European Leaders
President of Finland Alexander Stubb stated that the participants of the talks in Oslo managed to find some 'elements of peace,' which the American delegation will present in Russia. According to him, the discussion touched on security guarantees, economic issues and possible mechanisms for ending hostilities. The Finnish leader noted a certain progress at the technical level, despite public disagreements. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, in turn, expects Witkoff to return to Oslo after his meeting with Putin. The Norwegian authorities hope to receive information about Moscow's reaction to the proposals discussed with Kyiv and European partners. Støre did not rule out that he might meet with the American special envoy right at the airport.
