The key facts
- Putin agreed to resume trilateral talks; a technical meeting is possible in Abu Dhabi after November 10
- Russia released American Stephen Hubbard, who was sentenced to seven years, without an exchange
- The US is recalling some diplomats and their family members from Saudi Arabia amid intensified Houthi attacks
Putin agreed to resume talks
Trilateral talks on ending the war in Ukraine, suspended since February, may resume next month. According to the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin agreed to this on October 21 at a meeting with US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff. Technical talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine may take place in Abu Dhabi after November 10; they will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine and Russia after the end of the war.
Hubbard's release and assessment of the Oslo talks
According to Reuters, the nearly three-hour meeting began with a goodwill gesture from Moscow: Russia released 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard, whose release Trump had sought. Hubbard was captured in Ukraine in 2022 and sentenced to nearly seven years for mercenary activity. Trump wrote that no 'exchange' was required for this release. Witkoff told Putin that 'certain progress' had been made the day before at the talks in Oslo, but the Kremlin is not entirely satisfied with them: Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said they 'do not fully satisfy us.' Asked about the prospects for ending the conflict, he replied: 'I don't know how close we are, but work is moving in that direction.'
Iran and a possible meeting in China
The Iranian issue was also raised at the meeting in St. Petersburg. Putin said that an agreement with Iran is possible and necessary, and offered the US assistance in this. The parties also discussed a possible meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in China next month; the Kremlin said Beijing is preparing for such a meeting.
US withdraws some diplomats from Saudi Arabia
Due to intensified Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the US is partially recalling its diplomats from the kingdom. According to a State Department spokesperson, the order applies 'only to non-emergency US government employees in Saudi Arabia and their family members.' However, according to Reuters citing American officials, US missions in other Persian Gulf countries are also instructing employees' family members to leave. A State Department spokesperson stated: 'Houthi attacks on civilian airports and other key infrastructure are causing civilian casualties and serious disruptions to movement.'
