US special envoy delivers Ukraine war end plan to Putin... Russia releases detained Americans

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on the 21st (local time) and discussed restoration of economic cooperation, the Russian state-run Tass news agency reported.

According to foreign media, President Putin met with Special Envoy Witkov in St. Petersburg on this day and said, “We can supply more fertilizer to the United States.”

Special Envoy Witkoff expressed gratitude for the ‘transit deal’ to supply Russian oil to the U.S. and global markets. He said, “After the conflict in Ukraine ends, economic relations between the two countries will be able to develop.” According to the diesel deal, an oil tanker carrying 40,000 tons of Russian diesel will set sail for the first time to the United States on the 22nd.

President Putin also expressed interest in restoring economic cooperation with the United States, TASS news agency reported. At the same time, they discussed the possibility of a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in China next month.

On this day, Special Envoy Witkov delivered a document containing a plan to end the war with Ukraine to President Putin. At the same time, he said, “The basic foundation for a ceasefire with Ukraine has been laid,” and asked to consider the possibility of resuming trilateral negotiations mediated by the United States. Russia has rejected requests for a ceasefire from the United States and Ukraine, saying, "What Russia needs is peace, not a ceasefire."

Prior to the meeting, Russia released Stephen Hubbard, an American detained in Russia on suspicion of mercenary activities in Ukraine.

Hubbard, from Michigan, USA, was arrested and indicted by Russia on charges of working as a mercenary after signing a contract with the Ukrainian army in 2022, when the Ukraine war broke out while living in Ukraine.

On this day, civilian casualties continued to occur in Ukraine as U.S. intelligence and air defense network support continued to be disrupted.

According to Ukrainian regional authorities, four civilians were killed in Russian attacks overnight. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that it hit energy facilities, including a Ukrainian substation, and a ship in Odessa.

Ukrainian authorities claim that the United States is putting pressure on Ukraine by delaying approval of support for Patriot interceptor missiles. Ukraine needs interceptor missiles such as Patriot to block Russian attacks, but its missile inventory is running low.

Ukrainian authorities explain that air raid warnings in the city are not working properly due to disruptions in intelligence support for Russian ballistic missile attacks provided by the United States. Ukraine also reported that the Starlink function, which is essential for Ukraine's drone operation, has also deteriorated.