Putin meets Witkoff in St. Petersburg, releases U.S. teacher Stephen Hubbard

President Vladimir Putin hosted U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday for talks on ending the war in Ukraine, during which Russia released retired U.S. school teacher Stephen Hubbard as a goodwill gesture. The meeting marked Witkoff's ninth in-person session with Putin, following "constructive" talks in Oslo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. U.S.-Ukraine ties have deteriorated over a diesel deal with Russia and reported disruptions to intelligence sharing and Starlink satellite services. Trump has pressured Zelensky to negotiate, warning of "a very bad thing" if the war continues. Ukraine brought new proposals covering security guarantees and a post-war economic plan, while Witkoff aims to create a pathway toward trilateral negotiations.