The key facts

  • Witkoff arrived in St. Petersburg and is meeting with Putin; the main topic is resolving the conflict in Ukraine
  • Putin announced the release of American Stephen Hubbard, sentenced in 2024 to seven years
  • Kushner did not travel due to illness but may participate online; the meeting is the ninth between Witkoff and Putin

Meeting in St. Petersburg

US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, where he was met at Pulkovo Airport by the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev. Russian presidential foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin would receive Witkoff at the Constantine Palace in the first half of the day. According to him, the main topic will be negotiations on the conflict in Ukraine, and the meeting itself is a 'planned event' agreed upon several days ago. Ushakov also said that Dmitriev would attend the meeting. According to DW, this is the ninth meeting between Witkoff and Putin.

Oslo and the Positions of the Parties

On Tuesday, Witkoff took part in settlement talks in Oslo together with Volodymyr Zelensky, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Stubb stated that progress had been made and elements on security and the economy had been worked out, which Witkoff planned to present to the Russian leadership. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the meeting 'positive' but noted that it brought nothing unexpected. Zelensky thanked Washington for resuming the sharing of intelligence on Russian strikes, calling the early warnings 'very, very important for our people.' He also emphasized that Kyiv must participate in any negotiations about its own future.

Release of Hubbard

During the meeting, Putin announced the release of American Stephen Hubbard, detained by Russian forces on charges of mercenarism, which he denies, and sentenced in 2024 in a closed trial to seven years in prison. Putin said Hubbard was at the airport, and Witkoff noted that he was 'heading home to his family.' Trump said he had asked Putin about this by phone last week and called the situation unprecedented since, according to him, no 'exchange' was required.

Kushner and Other Details

According to Ushakov, Jared Kushner did not travel to St. Petersburg due to illness, but a TASS source reported that he may join the talks online. An official source told AFP that Kushner would participate in a virtual format. According to Axios, Witkoff is to present Putin with an updated proposal to end the war in Ukraine. Putin, according to DW, proposed discussing the restoration of bilateral ties and the possibility of trilateral talks with Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing. Norwegian Prime Minister Støre said Witkoff plans to return to Oslo for further consultations, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow is ready to listen but does not expect a 'miracle.'

Context of Tension

The visit takes place against the backdrop of friction between Kyiv and Washington: Trump struck a deal with Putin on diesel fuel supplies, criticized Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, and urged Zelensky to 'make a deal.' Zelensky accused the US of delaying deliveries of interceptor missiles paid for by European countries, and told American senators that the Pentagon is delaying missile deliveries awaiting the signature of Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. There were also reports of reduced speeds in the Starshield satellite system: Trump denied involvement, Rubio said Washington did not know about the slowdown, and The Wall Street Journal reported that the slowdown was ordered by Elon Musk himself.