Putin and US envoy Witkoff discuss Ukraine peace, prisoner release

Russian President Vladimir Putin met US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg on Wednesday to discuss resolving the Ukraine conflict, including proposals for reviving negotiations and the release of an American prisoner. Witkoff presented documents outlining potential settlement options and urged Putin to resume trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. The meeting followed Witkoff's discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway, where a US official reported "meaningful progress" on a peace framework covering security guarantees and post-war economic plans. Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American teacher imprisoned on mercenary charges, with Witkoff thanking Putin. The talks also covered possible Putin-Trump meeting in China, US-Russia economic cooperation including Russian diesel exports, and Russia's offer to help resolve the Iran war.