Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Wednesday, in principle, to resume trilateral negotiations among Russia, Ukraine and the United States on ending the war in Ukraine, a Kremlin adviser said after Putin met U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg.1,3,5
Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy adviser, told reporters after the meeting that the Russian leader had agreed "in principle" to resume the trilateral talks after Nov. 10. The date was the most specific timetable given for the talks, which have been stalled amid weeks of friction between Kyiv and Washington.1
Witkoff presented Putin with an updated proposal to end the war during the meeting at Constantine Palace. According to Axios, he asked the Russian leader to "consider resuming trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, where we could discuss the next steps toward achieving a settlement." Witkoff said the talks could include technical groups of specialists, and added, "We have brought several documents outlining approaches to achieving a peaceful settlement in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict."3,5
The meeting also brought the release of Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen who had spent more than four years in Russian custody. Putin announced the release at the start of the meeting, telling Witkoff, "He is at Pulkovo Airport," Axios reported, citing the exchange in front of the cameras. Axios said Hubbard, 74, had been seized by Russian troops in eastern Ukraine in April 2022.1,3
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Hubbard was "on his way back home and will soon be with his family." He wrote that "The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return - an unprecedented situation for Russia. There was no 'swap' necessary for this release." CBS News reported that Trump also said the release would not have happened had the U.S. not prevented new sanctions against Moscow from taking effect the previous week.3,5
Witkoff arrived in Russia after a day of talks in Oslo, Norway, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the leaders of Norway and Finland, and representatives from France, Britain, Germany, Poland, the European Union and NATO. Those discussions focused on developing a unified proposal for a "framework agreement" to end the war. Witkoff told Putin, "I believe the talks [in Oslo] were productive, and I would like to say that there is progress, and I will update you on this."3
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on a separate trip that Witkoff held "positive" talks with Zelensky in Oslo and would share the ideas discussed with the Russian side in an attempt to "make some progress." Zelensky had said on Tuesday that the next step should be a trilateral meeting between himself, Putin and Trump, a format Russia has so far rejected, according to Axios.3,5
The Kremlin's public position was more guarded. Russian officials said progress toward a negotiated resolution was "theoretically possible," but that any headway would require Ukraine's leaders to make "necessary decisions," according to Russian state media. If Ukraine failed to do so, the situation for the country "will be worse," the officials said, according to the state news agency TASS. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would study the proposals Witkoff brought, but that the talks would take a long time.5
CBS News reported that video of the meeting's opening showed Witkoff saying he hoped to discuss resuming the trilateral talks, but that the Kremlin did not indicate any new willingness to engage. Russian officials had said before the gathering that Moscow's position and demands had not changed. That account differs from Ushakov's description of Putin agreeing in principle to the talks.1,5
Axios reported that Putin also told Witkoff he wanted to discuss a possible meeting with Trump in China in mid-November, and that he wished to talk about possible Russian mediation between the United States and Iran. State media said Russian officials told Witkoff that a meeting between Trump, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping was "possible." Ukrainian officials have resisted that idea, CBS News reported, because it would sideline them from talks on their country's fate.3,5
Zelensky told Fox News that trilateral talks among himself, Trump and Putin were the best way to resolve the conflict, and that he would not accept a resolution crafted by China, Russia and the U.S. "Don't talk about us without us," he said. He also said any negotiated end to the war would need approval from Ukraine's parliament.5
The diplomacy follows a period of tension. CBS News reported that Trump had criticized Zelensky over Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, which Ukraine has continued in response to Russian strikes on energy and civilian sites. Trump announced an "energy ceasefire" earlier in the month, but neither Ukraine nor Russia confirmed agreeing to a truce. Trump also announced a deal with Moscow on Oct. 10 for Russia to release millions of tons of diesel fuel over several months, which Zelensky called a sign of "weakness." Axios described the White House's hope that Putin would show more willingness to compromise after Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Russian diesel sales, while CBS described the arrangement as a deal for Russia to release diesel. Russian state media said the first shipment had been dispatched for the U.S. on Wednesday.3,5
Zelensky thanked Washington for restoring U.S. intelligence sharing on Russian missile strikes, though he told Fox that access to data from the Starshield satellite network remained "limited" in Ukraine. He said Rubio was working on it and expected full access to be restored. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Witkoff planned to return to Oslo for more consultations with European officials after his visit to Russia. "I think we may have entered a phase now where the Russians are also looking for opportunities for diplomacy," Støre told the Norwegian broadcaster NRK.5
Zelensky remained in Oslo on Wednesday, and said "a lot depends on whether the American side manages to hear something new from Russia today."5