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

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, according to AFP, citing a U.S. official. The meeting aims to build on progress made in Oslo and pave the way for direct trilateral talks between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington. Witkoff spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Norwegian capital on Tuesday, where Ukraine presented new ideas and proposals that were discussed in detail. The official said the parties made meaningful progress in aligning a joint approach for engaging with Russia and advancing the diplomatic process. Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, is participating in the meeting via video link. The talks come as Washington and Kyiv attempt to repair a rift caused by Trump's announcement of a diesel deal with Russia and his pressure on Zelensky to end the war.