Trump envoy heads to Russia for Putin talks on Ukraine war

US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Washington seeks progress towards

US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Washington seeks progress towards ending the war in Ukraine following renewed discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Witkoff’s visit comes after what US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as positive talks with Zelensky in Oslo. The discussions focused on efforts to ease tensions between Washington and Kyiv and explore possible steps towards resolving the conflict with Russia.

Rubio said Witkoff would travel to Russia to present ideas discussed during his meeting with the Ukrainian president. He expressed hope that the discussions with Moscow could help advance diplomatic efforts.

The envoy was received at Pulkovo Airport by Kremlin adviser Kirill Dmitriev, who oversees international economic cooperation. A US official told AFP that Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, would participate virtually in Witkoff’s planned meeting with Putin.

Zelensky thanked Washington on Tuesday for restoring intelligence sharing related to Russian attacks. He said advance warnings about potential ballistic missile strikes were vital for protecting civilians, including children and adults.

The renewed engagement followed several days of friction between Kyiv and Washington over US policy towards the war. President Donald Trump has urged Zelensky to reach an agreement with Moscow, while criticising Ukraine’s refusal to accept terms previously proposed by his administration.

Tensions have also grown over Washington’s dealings with Putin, including a reported diesel-supply agreement and decisions concerning sanctions on Russia. Kyiv has expressed concern about the impact of US policy on its ability to defend itself against Russian attacks.

Trump said on Tuesday that he had asked Putin to release Stephen Hubbard, an American detained by Russian forces in Ukraine several years ago. It remained unclear whether the issue would be discussed during Wednesday’s meeting.

The dispute between Trump and Zelensky intensified after the two leaders clashed publicly at the White House in February 2025. Zelensky subsequently accused Washington of withholding critical intelligence and delaying deliveries of interceptor missiles.

Questions have also emerged over Ukraine’s access to satellite communications used for military operations. Kyiv has reported reduced speeds on Starshield, a military-grade satellite communications system developed by SpaceX, which is owned by Elon Musk.

Trump denied ordering any reduction in the service, while Musk said such a decision could only have come from the White House. Rubio said in Mumbai on Wednesday that the administration had no prior knowledge of the reported slowdown and maintained that Trump was not involved in decisions made by Musk or SpaceX.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Musk had ordered the slowdown. The competing claims have added another point of uncertainty to Washington’s military and diplomatic support for Ukraine.

Witkoff’s meeting with Putin is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to bring Moscow and Kyiv towards negotiations, although major disagreements remain over the terms of any potential settlement.