Kremlin dismisses new Ukraine peace proposals as lacking substance after Witkoff-Putin talks

The Kremlin criticized new peace proposals for Ukraine as lacking "substance" after US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, following talks with Ukrainian and European leaders in Oslo. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Russia was ready to resume trilateral talks in mid-November, but noted the proposals from Kyiv and Europe had little substance. Witkoff called his talks "constructive" but acknowledged important work remains, while President Trump claimed the sides were "the closest we've been" to ending the war. Witkoff faced criticism for calling Putin a "humanitarian" after Russia freed US citizen Stephen Hubbard, a move seen as a calculated gesture ahead of US midterm elections. Meanwhile, missiles struck Kyiv early Thursday, and US intelligence sharing with Ukraine reportedly resumed after the Norway meeting.