US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday for a Witkoff Putin meeting, following what Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as positive talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The trip is part of efforts to ease a bitter feud between President Donald Trump and Zelensky over the war with Russia. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was expected to join the talks virtually.
Zelensky Thanks US for Intelligence
After meeting Witkoff in Oslo, Zelensky thanked Washington for resuming intelligence sharing on Russian strikes, saying early warnings of ballistic missile attacks were very important for civilians.
Weeks of Friction Before the Witkoff Putin Meeting
Tensions rose after Trump struck a diesel-supply deal with Putin, waived sanctions on Russia’s war machine and called for Zelensky to be replaced when Ukraine refused to stop hitting Russian oil refineries. Zelensky has accused the Pentagon of delaying Patriot interceptors already paid for by European countries, and Ukraine has reported slower speeds on the Starshield military satellite system. Rubio said Washington had no prior knowledge of that slowdown.
What Happens Next
Trump has asked Putin to free American Stephen Hubbard and said he is ready to meet Putin and Xi Jinping in China next month. Zelensky insists Ukraine must be at the table for any talks about its future.
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