Witkoff meets Putin as US-backed Ukraine peace talks move closer

US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin said Putin conveyed an in-principle willingness to resume negotiations involving Washington and Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Kyiv’s interest in a trilateral meeting at the level of negotiating teams. Ukraine wants it held no later than early November, while Russia said it could take place in mid-November.

Abu Dhabi was named by the Russian side as a possible venue. No exact date was announced.

Talks followed Norway meeting

Witkoff met Zelenskyy and European officials in Norway a day earlier, with the prime ministers of Norway and Finland and representatives of the European Union and NATO also attending. Witkoff described the discussions as productive, while the Kremlin said he briefed Putin on Kyiv’s and Europe’s positions.

Zelenskyy said he had remained in contact with US officials after Witkoff’s meeting with Putin. He added that Kyiv supported proposals for a ceasefire, an end to the war, an “energy ceasefire” and humanitarian initiatives.

Positions remain far apart

Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on the terms of any potential peace agreement. US President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Kyiv to end the war or face what he called “a very bad thing”.

The Kremlin said Putin thanked Trump and Witkoff for their efforts to end the conflict. The meeting also covered possible Russian assistance to the US on Iran and supplies of fertiliser for American farmers.

Fighting continues

The diplomatic contacts came as Russia and Ukraine continued long-range attacks. Bryansk regional governor Yegor Kovalchuk said one person was killed and two wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack.

Ukraine’s emergency service reported that two people were killed in a Russian strike on a high-rise building in Kyiv’s Sviatoshynskyi district.