Witkoff announces trilateral technical talks on Ukraine war

US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that talks on ending the Russian-Ukrainian war will continue as trilateral technical-level negotiations, following his meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Witkoff described the discussions as "constructive" and said they would proceed between the US, Russia, and Ukraine at a technical level. He also highlighted the release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, who had been detained in Russia, and reiterated Trump's commitment to achieving a comprehensive, lasting peace. The meetings followed reports that both Ukrainian and Russian sides agreed to resume trilateral talks with US participation. Witkoff reportedly called Putin a "humanist" during the St. Petersburg meeting, which began with Hubbard's release after over four years in Russian custody.