Russia closes German consulate in St. Petersburg as US envoy reports progress in Ukraine talks

US negotiators reported a new Russian willingness to negotiate, according to a French presidential source, following talks in Kyiv and Moscow. This marks a potential shift after recent Duma elections, though officials caution it only opens a diplomatic space. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed three rounds of "substantial" negotiations with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, joined by France, Germany, and the UK. Discussions covered air defense, winter aid, and security guarantees, with Kyiv calling its proposals constructive. Russia closed Germany's consulate in St. Petersburg amid diplomatic retaliation over a drone incident. Moscow also claimed strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure, while Kyiv reported hitting Russian oil refineries. The Kremlin called the Putin-Witkoff meeting a small step toward peace.