Putin frees American prison during US envoy Witkoff visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin met US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Oct. 21, to discuss new proposals for ending the war in Ukraine. Putin thanked President Donald Trump for his efforts to settle the conflict and said Russia was interested in restoring economic ties with the United States, according to Reuters, citing Russian news agencies. Witkoff said there was a basis for a ceasefire and that he hoped Putin would consider resuming three-way talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine, Interfax and TASS reported.yahoo.com

The meeting came one day after Witkoff held talks in Oslo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders. It tests whether Moscow will engage with a framework that Kyiv and its allies say they now support.

Talks at the Constantine Palace

Putin received Witkoff at the Constantine Palace, an imperial residence near St. Petersburg. It was the ninth time the two men have met in person, Reuters reported. The session opened with a goodwill gesture from Moscow. Putin told Witkoff that Stephen Hubbard, a retired US school teacher held in Russia on mercenary charges he denies, was waiting at the airport to fly home with him. Kremlin investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev met Witkoff when he landed and took part in the talks. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, did not travel because he had the flu, The Moscow Times reported.reuters.com+1

"I don't know if any agreement will be reached today," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said before the meeting, Politico reported.politico.com

Proposals from Oslo

A US official called the Oslo talks "constructive." The official said they covered security guarantees for Ukraine, a post-war economic plan and a broader European security architecture, with the goal of creating "a pathway toward direct trilateral and broader multilateral negotiations," CNN reported. Zelensky said one key idea was "a potential trilateral meeting of the leaders," according to Anadolu Agency. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Witkoff planned to return to Oslo after Russia for more consultations, US News reported, citing the Associated Press.aa.com.tr+2

The diplomacy is happening while US-Ukrainian relations are strained. Trump has said it is "time for Ukraine to end this war," and Kyiv had accused Washington of withholding intelligence on Russian strikes. Zelensky said that intelligence sharing "works now," according to the BBC.bbc.com

Moscow sets limits

On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would consider the envoys' proposals but would make no political concessions. "If they offer something that is economically and financially advantageous to us, then why not?" he said, Anadolu reported. Lavrov also said Moscow does "not expect a miracle" and that Washington would remain a rival "at best," according to CNN, citing TASS.cnn.com+1

Russia still demands that Ukraine give up the entire Donbas region, sharply reduce its military and never join NATO. Kyiv and its allies reject any surrender of territory, CNN reported.cnn.com