Putin holds Ukraine peace talks with Trump’s envoy Witkoff, frees American Hubbard
The two men discussed fresh proposals after Trump said it was time for Kyiv to end the war or face ‘a very bad thing’
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted US special envoy Steve Witkoff in a grand imperial palace on Wednesday to review new ideas on ending the war in Ukraine amid Washington’s latest push to stop Europe’s bloodiest conflict since second world war.
The talks in St Petersburg, the ninth time that Witkoff has met Putin in person, began with a goodwill gesture from Russia – the release of a retired US teacher held in Russia.
The encounter comes amid concerns in Kyiv and among its allies that the United States is backing away from Ukraine, at times holding back real-time intelligence on Russian attacks and hobbling Ukraine’s military communications.
The latest talks came more than two years after US President Donald Trump promised in his successful election campaign to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours.
