The key facts

  • Witkoff met with Putin at the Constantine Palace, the meeting lasted almost three hours; Kushner participated via video link due to illness.
  • In Oslo, Witkoff met with Zelensky with the participation of representatives of the EU, NATO, France, the UK, Germany, Poland, Norway, and Finland.
  • Putin announced the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard, who was sentenced to seven years after serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Meeting in St. Petersburg

US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in St. Petersburg on the morning of October 21 for a meeting with Vladimir Putin. The US is once again attempting to resume the negotiation process to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Jared Kushner, the US president's son-in-law, who usually accompanied Witkoff on such trips, did not come to Russia due to illness but is participating in the meeting via video link. Witkoff was met at Pulkovo Airport by Russian Presidential Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev. The meeting with Putin began around noon Moscow time at the Constantine Palace; its initial part was open to the press.

What Witkoff Conveyed and What Putin Said

Witkoff thanked Putin for agreeing to the 'diesel agreement' and expressed hope that the Russian president would consider the possibility of resuming trilateral talks. He also said he had brought documents outlining 'approaches' to a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Putin, for his part, announced the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard, who fought in the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces and, after being captured by Russia, was sentenced to seven years in prison. The Putin-Witkoff meeting lasted almost three hours.

Talks in Oslo

Before arriving in St. Petersburg, Witkoff met in Oslo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The talks were attended by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, as well as representatives of the European Union, NATO, France, the UK, Germany, and Poland. Kushner participated in this meeting remotely.

Outcomes of the Oslo Meeting and the Idea of a Trilateral Format

Following the talks, Stubb said the meeting made it possible to achieve 'real progress on two levels' — in the short term and in a broader context. According to him, the discussion covered key issues: air defense, energy facilities, and the possibility of a partial ceasefire. Zelensky emphasized that in Ukraine and the West there are 'concrete ideas for achieving peace,' and one of them is organizing a trilateral meeting with the participation of Trump, Putin, and Zelensky 'to resolve issues that only leaders can resolve.' Moscow has previously stated repeatedly that a meeting in such a format is possible only at the final stage of negotiations. Trump, however, after the talks in Oslo noted that for the trilateral format it is 'not necessary to be in the same room.'