Putin and US envoy discuss Ukraine ceasefire as Russia releases American prisoner

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg for talks on ending the war in Ukraine, while announcing the release of 74-year-old American prisoner Stephen Hubbard as a goodwill gesture. Putin thanked President Donald Trump for his peace efforts and expressed interest in restoring economic relations with the US. Witkoff said there was a basis for a ceasefire and hoped to resume trilateral negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the US. Hubbard, a retired teacher from Michigan, was convicted in 2024 of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine and sentenced to six years and 10 months in prison. Russia is preparing to send its first diesel shipment of 40,000 tonnes to the US on Thursday as part of an energy agreement between Trump and Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated he would accept a peace deal freezing the war along current frontlines, seeking security guarantees from Trump and European allies.