US envoy Witkoff meets Putin in St. Petersburg with peace proposals
US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Oslo, presenting proposals for a peace settlement in Russia's war against Ukraine. Witkoff said after the meeting that there is a basis for a ceasefire and hoped Putin would agree to resume three-party negotiations involving Russia, the US, and Ukraine. Putin thanked President Donald Trump for his efforts and expressed interest in restoring economic ties with the US. Putin proposed a meeting with Trump in China next month, while Russia confirmed the first tanker of Russian diesel for the US is scheduled to depart Thursday. US citizen Stephen Hubbard was reportedly released from Russian detention during Witkoff's visit.