Putin tells Witkoff Russia open to resuming Ukraine talks in November
Russian President Vladimir Putin told US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg that conditions exist for a ceasefire, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in St Petersburg on Wednesday that there were grounds for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Russian state media reported. Putin said Russia was willing in principle to resume three-way talks with Ukraine and the United States around 10 November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.
The roughly three-hour meeting took place at the Constantine Palace, with Putin opening by thanking Witkoff for President Donald Trump's efforts to end the war and saying Russia wanted to restore economic ties with the US, Norwegian broadcaster Aftenposten reported, citing Russian state media. Ushakov said Witkoff briefed Putin on the outcome of talks a day earlier in Oslo between Ukraine, the US and European partners, though Putin found little in Kyiv's and Europe's new proposals "useful", according to Ushakov.
During the visit, Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher from Michigan who had been jailed for nearly seven years after a closed 2024 trial on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, the Daily Mirror reported. Witkoff thanked Putin for the release, telling him, "Because of you, he's going home to his family."
The St Petersburg meeting followed talks in Oslo on 20 October between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Witkoff, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Zelensky said he backed holding three-way talks with the US and Russia as soon as possible, and hoped they could happen by early November, Reuters reported.
The European Commission said it was awaiting a briefing from the US delegation on the outcome of the Russia talks, spokesperson Paula Pinho said. One of the Oslo talks' main goals was to assess whether conditions existed for a new negotiating format bringing Russia, Ukraine and the US to the same table, she said.
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What we know
- 1 outlet · Sydsvenskan Putin told US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg there were grounds for a ceasefire in Ukraine, and said Russia was willing in principle to resume three-way talks with Ukraine and the US around 10 November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.
- 1 outlet · Daily Mirror During the visit, Russia released jailed American Stephen Hubbard, who had been serving a near seven-year sentence over mercenary charges, the Daily Mirror reported.
- 1 outlet · Aftenposten The meeting followed Oslo talks on 20 October between Zelensky, Witkoff and the Norwegian and Finnish leaders; Zelensky said he wants three-way talks as soon as early November.
- 1 outlet · NV.ua The European Commission said it is awaiting a US briefing on the outcome of the Russia talks, a spokesperson said.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The exchange marks one of the highest-level contacts in months between Washington and Moscow on ending the war, and comes as both sides continue trading long-range strikes, with Russian missiles hitting Kyiv the same evening, according to Kyiv's mayor. A resumption of three-way talks, if it happens, would be the first format bringing Russia, Ukraine and the US to the same table since trilateral negotiations stalled in February.
Sources
Reported by 35 reports from 32 independent outlets in 14 countries.
- Sydsvenskan: Witkoff tackar Putin för dieseluppgörelse
- Daily Mirror: Russian peace talks take place against backdrop of dramatic weapons build-up
- Aftenposten: Witkoff til Putin: Det er grunnlag for en våpenhvile
- NV.ua: European Commission awaits U.S. briefing on Ukraine-Russia talks after Putin meeting
- La Razón: Rusia abre la puerta a reanudar las conversaciones con EE UU y Ucrania tras el encuentro de Witkoff con Putin
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What did Putin tell Witkoff?
- That Russia was willing in principle to resume three-way peace talks with Ukraine and the US around 10 November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.
- What happened to Stephen Hubbard?
- Russia released the jailed American teacher during Witkoff's visit; he had been serving a near seven-year sentence over mercenary charges, the Daily Mirror reported.
- What do Ukraine and Europe want from the talks?
- Zelensky said he backs holding three-way talks as soon as possible, and the European Commission said it is awaiting a US briefing on the outcome of the Russia meeting.
This article was written with AI assistance from 36 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.