US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has spoken about the results of talks with partners in Oslo and his visit to Russia.
According to Witkoff, in Oslo and St Petersburg he and Jared Kushner met Russian, Ukrainian and European leaders to discuss ending the war. In Russia, they were to “build on the progress”.
“In St Petersburg, we held a meeting with President Putin to build on the progress achieved in Oslo during talks with President Zelenskyy, to discuss the foundations of a peaceful settlement, and also to thank President Putin for the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard, who will now be able to return home to his family,” the envoy wrote on his page on the X platform.
Witkoff noted that “these discussions were constructive”.
“The work will continue in the format of trilateral talks between the United States, Russia and Ukraine at the technical level. Despite the fact that there is still a great deal of important work ahead, President Trump remains firmly committed to bringing this war to an end and establishing a comprehensive, lasting peace that will ensure security and prosperity for future generations,” the envoy wrote.
- On 20 October, Oslo hosted a meeting of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
- The participants discussed proposals for establishing peace, security guarantees for Ukraine and post-war reconstruction.
- According to Zelenskyy, Washington agrees on the need to provide Ukraine with strong security guarantees. Among the options being considered is a mechanism similar to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
- The American side described the talks as constructive.
- On 21 October, Witkoff travelled to St Petersburg, where he passed the proposals to Putin.
- That same day, a European Commission spokesperson said partners would await a report from the American side on the outcome of the envoy’s talks with the Russians.
- Republicans in the US Congress soon criticised Witkoff for calling Putin a “humanist” in conversation because of the release of US citizen Hubbard from Russian captivity.
- The Associated Press wrote that the Russian dictator agreed “in principle” to resume trilateral talks involving the United States and Ukraine. They are expected to restart after 10 November.