Witkoff pitches Putin on trilateral peace talks; US citizen freed in St. Petersburg

White House envoy Steve Witkoff asked Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to resume trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. to end the war. Russia released American citizen Stephen Hubbard, held for over four years, without a prisoner exchange. Witkoff presented an updated framework proposal developed after consultations in Oslo, involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Western allies. Putin announced Hubbard's release at the meeting's start, and President Trump confirmed the American's return home, stating no concessions were made. Putin expanded the agenda, offering Russian mediation between the U.S. and Iran, and requested a direct meeting with Trump in China, possibly in mid-November. Russia previously rejected the trilateral format.