Witkoff to present Putin with peace proposal after talks with Zelensky
United States special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in St Petersburg, Russia, to present Russian President Vladimir Putin with a peace proposal regarding the war in Ukraine. The trip follows constructive talks between Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway. As he prepared for the meetings, Zelenskyy insisted that nothing regarding Ukraine should be decided without Ukraine and sought to mend ties with Washington amid mounting bilateral tensions. Alongside the diplomatic mission, Putin hosted the envoy and freed an American citizen held in Russia.
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- ✓ Steve Witkoff serves as the United States special envoy for peace missions and special envoy to the Middle East.
- ✓ Witkoff held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway before traveling to Russia.
- ✓ Witkoff arrived in St Petersburg for talks with Vladimir Putin regarding a peace proposal for Ukraine.
- ✓ Marco Rubio stated that it is scandalous to claim Ukrainians are dying due to the United States pulling support, and denied withholding intelligence.
What changed
Envoy Steve Witkoff travelled from discussions with Ukrainian leadership in Norway to St Petersburg to present a peace proposal directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Live updates
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US Envoy Witkoff Travels to Russia to Present Peace Proposal
United States special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in St Petersburg, Russia, to present Russian President Vladimir Putin with a peace proposal regarding the war in Ukraine. The trip follows constructive talks between Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway. As he prepared for the meetings, Zelenskyy insisted that nothing regarding Ukraine should be decided without Ukraine and sought to mend ties with Washington amid mounting bilateral tensions. Alongside the diplomatic mission, Putin hosted the envoy and freed an American citizen held in Russia.
Why it matters
The high-stakes diplomacy unfolds against a backdrop of strained relations between Washington and Kyiv, though Ukrainian officials noted that intelligence sharing is functioning now. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended U.S. support and denied withholding intelligence or pulling back assistance. The mission places Witkoff directly between the warring nations as a mediator for peace talks.
What is confirmed
- Steve Witkoff serves as the United States special envoy for peace missions and special envoy to the Middle East.
- Witkoff held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway before traveling to Russia.
- Witkoff arrived in St Petersburg for talks with Vladimir Putin regarding a peace proposal for Ukraine.
- Marco Rubio stated that it is scandalous to claim Ukrainians are dying due to the United States pulling support, and denied withholding intelligence.
- Vladimir Putin hosted the Trump envoy and freed an American citizen held in Russia.
What to watch next
- The specific terms and provisions of the peace proposal presented to Vladimir Putin
- Official statements from the Kremlin and the White House regarding the outcome of the St Petersburg talks
- Any formal response from the Ukrainian government concerning the details of the peace proposal
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (21)
- CNBC — Zelenskyy to meet with U.S. envoy as tensions with Trump mount
- BBC — Zelensky prepares for Oslo talks with US envoys as Rubio denies withholding intelligence
- NBC News — ‘Scandalous’ to say Ukrainians are dying due to U.S. pulling support, Rubio says
- Reuters — Zelenskiy to meet Witkoff as US-Ukraine relations sink to new lows
- Financial Times — Witkoff to meet Zelenskyy before travelling to Moscow
- The Economist — World in Brief: Zelensky to meet Steve Witkoff; France enforces curfews
- Axios — Witkoff to present Putin with peace proposal after talks with Zelensky
- PBS — Zelenskyy seeks to mend ties with Trump ahead of Witkoff-Putin meeting
- Yahoo — US envoy to meet Russia's president after 'productive' talks with Zelensky
- BBC — US envoy to meet Putin in Russia as Zelensky says intelligence sharing 'works now'
- Reuters — US envoy Witkoff arrives in St Petersburg for talks with Putin
- The Guardian — Ukraine war briefing: US envoy Witkoff to meet Putin after ‘constructive’ talks with Zelenskyy in Norway
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