Witkoff meets Putin in St Petersburg after US and Ukraine agree peace proposals in Oslo
Zelensky says the Oslo talks produced proposals to end the war, including security guarantees, and that US intelligence sharing has resumed. Russia says it will listen but rules out political concessions.
At a glance
- US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived at the Constantine Palace in St Petersburg on Wednesday, October 21, to meet President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine.
- Zelensky says Ukraine and the US agreed a series of proposals in Oslo on October 20, including security guarantees for Kyiv, and that 'very, very important' US intelligence sharing has resumed.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Oslo talks positive; Russia's Sergei Lavrov said Moscow will listen but rules out political concessions and will not pause the war during talks.
- Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said he did not know whether any agreement would be reached; it is the envoys' first Russia trip since September 5.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff is in Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin, carrying proposals agreed with Ukraine a day earlier in Oslo. Witkoff arrived at the Constantine Palace in St Petersburg on Wednesday, October 21, in the latest push by the Trump administration to end the war.
From Oslo to St Petersburg
| Date | Meeting | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 20 | Witkoff and Zelensky in Oslo, hosted by Norway and Finland, with EU and NATO representatives | Proposals to end the war agreed, including security guarantees for Kyiv, Zelensky says |
| Wed, Oct 21 | Witkoff and Putin in St Petersburg | Talks under way; no agreement announced |
Witkoff was met by Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's special representative for investment and economic cooperation, who is taking part in the talks. Jared Kushner did not travel because of illness and was expected to join remotely. It is the envoys' first trip to Russia since September 5, when they held about three hours of talks with Putin in Moscow.
What Ukraine says was agreed
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine and the US had agreed a series of proposals, including security guarantees for Kyiv, though no details were released. He also said:
- "Very, very important" US intelligence sharing has resumed, after Kyiv complained of missing warnings about Russian missile attacks.
- Progress on Patriot air-defence interceptors and restrictions on the military version of Starlink could come within 48 hours.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Oslo meeting "positive" and said Witkoff, "armed with those ideas", would share them with the Russian side. Rubio rejected suggestions that President Trump was behind restrictions on Ukraine's use of the military satellite service, saying he had "nothing to do with the decisions that are made by Starlink and Starshield".
Russia's position
- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would listen to US proposals but ruled out political concessions, and said Moscow would not pause the war even during negotiations.
- Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said: "I don't know if any agreement will be reached today."
The war goes on
Fighting continued as the diplomats met. Two people were killed in a Russian attack on a high-rise building in Kyiv, and at least one person was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's Bryansk region. On Tuesday, Russian strikes killed at least seven people around Kyiv and cut power in 12 regions.
Background
Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. President Trump has repeatedly said he wants a quick deal, but has grown frustrated with Zelensky, suggesting Ukraine should find someone else to negotiate for it, and has waived some sanctions on Russia. European governments, which have committed far more aid to Ukraine than the US, fear any deal could force Kyiv to give up territory. A possible summit involving Trump, Putin and China's Xi Jinping next month has been discussed but not confirmed.
Why it matters
Any agreement — or failure — will shape the war's course into a fifth winter. A settlement could ease pressure on energy and food markets, while continued fighting keeps Europe's security and the global economy under strain.
What happens next
Witkoff is expected to brief Washington and Kyiv after the meeting. Watch for any Kremlin readout, a decision on Patriot deliveries to Ukraine, and whether a leaders' summit is announced.
Questions people are asking
Is Witkoff meeting Putin?
Yes. US special envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to St Petersburg on October 21, 2026, to meet President Putin, a day after talks with Ukraine's President Zelensky in Oslo. Jared Kushner was expected to join remotely.
What did the US and Ukraine agree in Oslo?
Zelensky said the two sides agreed a series of proposals to end the war, including security guarantees for Ukraine. The details have not been made public.
Will Russia agree to a ceasefire?
There is no sign yet. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow will listen to US proposals but rules out political concessions and will not pause the war during negotiations.
