Putin holds Ukraine peace talks with Trump’s envoy Witkoff, frees American Hubbard
Ninth in-person meeting between Putin and Witkoff includes release of a retired US teacher
Quick Look
Russian President Vladimir Putin met US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg to discuss ending the Ukraine war, accompanied by the release of a retired US teacher.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
US President Donald Trump previously promised to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted US special envoy Steve Witkoff in a grand imperial palace on Wednesday to review new ideas on ending the war in Ukraine amid Washington’s latest push to stop Europe’s bloodiest conflict since second world war.
The talks in St Petersburg, the ninth time that Witkoff has met Putin in person, began with a goodwill gesture from Russia – the release of a retired US teacher held in Russia.
The encounter comes amid concerns in Kyiv and among its allies that the United States is backing away from Ukraine, at times holding back real-time intelligence on Russian attacks and hobbling Ukraine’s military communications.
The latest talks came more than two years after US President Donald Trump promised in his successful election campaign to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours.
Open Questions
- What specific ideas were reviewed to end the war?
- What terms were agreed upon for the prisoner release?
