US envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to present an updated peace proposal. The move follows consultations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
White House envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday to present an updated proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, according to a U.S. official. President Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner will join the meeting virtually.
The meeting in Russia follows a series of consultations in Oslo, Norway, where Witkoff met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders on Tuesday. The objective of these talks was to develop peace proposals that Witkoff could subsequently present to Moscow.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that Zelensky had requested Norway and Finland to organize the meeting. "President Zelensky approached Norway and Finland with a request to arrange a meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts at a critical time for Ukraine," Støre said. Finnish President Alexander Stubb also participated in the discussions.
The Ukrainian delegation included presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov, first deputy presidential chief of staff Sergiy Kyslytsya, deputy presidential chief of staff Pavlo Palisa, and Rustem Umerov, according to RBC-Ukraine. Kushner participated in the Oslo talks remotely after contracting the flu, a U.S. official told Axios.
According to a U.S. official, American, Ukrainian, and European representatives have been developing proposals along two parallel tracks. The first track focuses on Ukraine’s future, aiming to preserve its sovereignty, provide credible security guarantees, support European integration, and establish a postwar economic framework. This framework is intended to address Ukraine’s financing needs while creating opportunities for reconstruction and long-term growth.
The second track involves preparing a comprehensive proposal for Russia. This proposal addresses issues necessary to end the war, explores future security arrangements between Russia and Europe, and considers opportunities for postwar economic cooperation. The official noted that President Trump instructed his team to undertake an intensive process with Ukraine and Europe to develop these proposals.
The diplomatic efforts occur amid a deepening dispute between Kyiv and Washington. President Trump has pressed Kyiv to stop striking Russian oil refineries, while Ukraine seeks assurances that Washington will continue supplying weapons and intelligence. Zelensky has accused the United States of withholding support as Russia targets Ukrainian cities and energy facilities.
Zelensky has offered to suspend refinery strikes in exchange for Patriot interceptor missiles. The White House hopes that Putin will show more willingness to compromise after Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Russian diesel sales and took other steps welcomed by Moscow.
The upcoming meeting in St. Petersburg represents a critical test of whether the proposals developed in Oslo can serve as the basis for substantive negotiations with Moscow. The U.S. official described President Trump’s objective as ending the killing and establishing a lasting peace benefiting Ukraine, Russia, Europe, and the United States. Witkoff’s trip is also expected to include efforts to secure the release of Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher whom the United States considers wrongfully detained.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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