US envoy Witkoff meets Putin in St. Petersburg to advance Ukraine peace talks

US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in St. Petersburg on Wednesday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, tasked by President Donald Trump with advancing proposals to end the Ukraine war and pave the way for broader negotiations. The meeting was scheduled for Wednesday morning, with Moscow signaling through adviser Yuri Ushakov that it is "in principle" ready for talks with Ukraine and the US. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin remains open to finding a peaceful settlement, with negotiations expected to resume in November. Shortly after Witkoff's arrival, Russia announced the release of American Stephen Hubbard, detained for over four years, and the first diesel shipment to the US. Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo on Tuesday, where a US official reported "significant progress" and broad agreement on next steps.