U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, days after the envoy joined Ukrainian and European leaders in Oslo, and the same day Russia released an American man, Stephen Hubbard, from custody.1,3,4,6,7
The New Republic reported that Russia released Stephen James Hubbard, who it described as a Michigan native who had spent four years in Russian custody under accusations of being a Ukrainian mercenary. A U.S. official described Hubbard as a retired American teacher whom the United States says has been wrongfully detained in Russia, and said efforts to secure his release were part of the trip.1,3
Before the Russia leg, Witkoff was scheduled to travel to Oslo for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, representatives of the E4 nations, which are the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Poland, and officials from the European Union and NATO, a U.S. official said. The talks were intended to develop a peace proposal to present to Russia.1
The U.S. official said the Oslo meetings built on discussions held at Witkoff's Miami-area club, where Zelensky agreed to review and advance a series of proposals aimed at a comprehensive and durable peace agreement. The official said American, Ukrainian and European representatives had worked together over the past week to develop the proposals. Trump adviser Jared Kushner, who has the flu, was to take part in the Oslo meeting virtually rather than in person.1
"Steve and Jared also spoke with President Zelensky on Sunday to review progress and discuss next steps," the U.S. official said.1
The official described two parallel tracks. One concerns Ukraine's future, including security guarantees, European integration and a postwar economic framework. The other concerns conditions for lasting peace, including a comprehensive proposal to Russia that addresses the issues needed to end the war and establishes a new security architecture between Russia and Europe.1
According to France 24, Witkoff was in St. Petersburg holding talks with Putin at the Constantine Palace, after meeting Zelensky and other European leaders in Oslo, and was due to return to the Norwegian capital after the Russia visit. Before the trip, the U.S. official had said Witkoff hoped to present ideas developed with Ukraine and European partners to Putin. France 24's headline said Witkoff thanked Putin for a diesel deal; the material available did not describe that arrangement further.1,4
The remark that drew the most attention came during the meeting. "He's a 75-year-old man. You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian," Witkoff said to Putin, according to The New Republic. "You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that. I commend you." The magazine gave Hubbard's age as 74 elsewhere in its article, so the two ages in its account do not match.3,7
The New Republic wrote that Hubbard "was no mercenary" and that Putin "is no humanitarian," and it described the reaction to Witkoff's remarks as widely critical. Republican Senator John Cornyn posted on X: "No. Putin is stone cold killer." Jimmy Rushton of The Kyiv Independent wrote: "Absurd simpering obsequiousness from a representative of the most powerful country on earth, and another American humiliation, to add to the growing, growing list." The magazine also noted that Putin is wanted on war crimes by the International Criminal Court and cited figures for the war's toll, which it said included at least 125,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 15,000 civilians killed.3
It was not immediately clear what Russian officials said about the release or Witkoff's remarks. The material available did not include a statement from the Russian government on either point, and it did not say whether the Hubbard release was connected to the diplomatic talks.3,4,6
Witkoff is expected to return to Oslo after the Russia visit, according to France 24. The U.S. official said the next step was to test whether the work on a peace proposal could form the basis for serious negotiations with Russia.1,4
"These discussions remain fluid, and substantial work remains," the U.S. official said. "President Trump's objective is clear: to end the killing, bring the war to a close, and establish the conditions for a lasting peace that benefits Ukraine, Russia, Europe, and the United States."1