Steve Witkoff Meets Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to Pitch Trilateral Ukraine Peace Summit
US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to pitch proposals aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, nos.nl reported. Witkoff’s diplomatic push includes organizing a high-level summit between Putin, US President Donald Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, alongside parallel negotiations concerning energy agreements and the resumption of diesel shipments to the United States.
Witkoff proposes trilateral meeting with Russia and Ukraine
Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg where he was received at the airport by businessman Kirill Dmitriev, a close confidant of President Putin, according to nos.nl. During the discussions, Witkoff floated a proposal for a trilateral meeting involving the leaders of the US, Russia, and Ukraine. Jared Kushner, serving as an advisor and Trump’s son-in-law, participated in the talks remotely via a video link due to illness.
The diplomatic groundwork for the meeting was laid during consultations in Oslo, Norway, where Witkoff met with Zelensky alongside Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
Russian diesel shipments follow oil agreement with Lukoil
The diplomatic negotiations run parallel to discussions surrounding major economic arrangements, including a multi-billion-dollar oil agreement involving Lukoil, one of Russia’s largest energy companies currently subject to sanctions. Alexander Novak announced via Russian media that the first tanker carrying Russian diesel is scheduled to depart for the United States, with subsequent shipments expected to follow as contract finalization reaches its concluding phase.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the meeting between Witkoff and Zelensky as positive, noting that officials are watching to see if tangible progress can be achieved. At the same time, military hostilities continue across Ukraine. Ukrainian Prime Minister Koretskyi reported ongoing Russian attacks, including a drone strike that hit a 24-story residential building in Kyiv, resulting in two fatalities, alongside separate strikes in Kharkiv that killed two people and injured eleven others.
Who participated in the St. Petersburg and Oslo meetings?
Who participated in the St. Petersburg meeting with Vladimir Putin?
US special envoy Steve Witkoff met directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, while Jared Kushner participated remotely via video link due to illness.
What specific proposal did US envoys discuss with Ukrainian leadership in Oslo?
US negotiators met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo alongside Norwegian and Finnish leaders to discuss proposals for ending the conflict, which include organizing a trilateral summit between the leaders of the US, Russia, and Ukraine.
What economic agreement is progressing alongside the peace talks?
Alexander Novak confirmed that contract finalization is in its concluding phase for a diesel export agreement, with the first tanker scheduled to depart for the US following the easing of specific restrictions.