Get you up to speed: Witkoff in Russia for Putin meeting after ‘positive’ talks with Zelenskyy
United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in St Petersburg for talks with Russian leaders on the Ukraine war following discussions with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway. At least one person was killed and two were wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s western Bryansk region on Wednesday, while two people were killed in a Russian attack on a high-rise building in Kyiv.
Steve Witkoff is expected to present the outcomes of his discussions with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. The ongoing conflict, which began over four and a half years ago, remains a focal point of diplomatic negotiations, with both Russia and Ukraine engaged in long-range attacks amid these efforts.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterised the talks between Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “positive” and stated that Witkoff would convey the outcomes to President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg. Following these discussions, Zelenskyy noted the restoration of “very, very important” intelligence from the US, indicating a potential shift in information sharing amidst ongoing tensions.
What remains unclear — It is not specified what outcomes Witkoff hopes to achieve in his meeting with Putin.
Witkoff arrives in Russia for Putin meeting after talks with Zelenskyy
News|Russia-Ukraine warWitkoff in Russia for Putin meeting after ‘positive’ talks with Zelenskyy
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Witkoff’s talks with Zelenskyy as ‘positive’, as efforts to end war intensify.
Published On 21 Oct 202621 Oct 2026
Published On 21 Oct 202621 Oct 2026United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in St Petersburg for talks with Russian leaders on the Ukraine war following “positive” talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway.
Witkoff is due to meet President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in the city in northwestern Russia, as the US pushes for an end to the war that began more than four and a half years ago with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Zelenskyy in recent weeks and has suggested that someone else should negotiate on Kyiv’s behalf. The remarks signalled a new low in their relationship, while Zelenskyy has accused the US of suspending crucial intelligence sharing.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the talks between Witkoff and Zelenskyy as “positive”, adding that the US envoy would share the results with Putin. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also attended the talks with Zelenskyy, but did so virtually because of illness. Kushner is also expected to attend the meeting with Putin remotely.
“He’ll now, armed with those ideas, be able to go to St Petersburg and share them with the Russian side – and let’s see if we can make some progress,” Rubio said.
The prime ministers of Norway and Finland also attended the talks in Oslo. Representatives from the European Union and NATO were present. Following Tuesday’s talks, Zelenskyy said “very, very important” intelligence from the US had been restored.
Zelenskyy has also accused Washington of slowing down the internet service, Starshield, which is crucial for Ukraine’s battlefield operations. Starshield is the military-grade equivalent of Starlink and is also developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Rubio dismissed Zelenskyy’s accusations, saying Trump had “nothing to do with the decisions that are made by Starlink and Starshield”. Musk disputes this and says such decisions can only be made by the US military and president.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Musk ordered the slowdown of the service, citing US officials and people familiar with the matter.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, Russia and Ukraine continue to trade long-range attacks.
At least one person was killed and two were wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s western Bryansk region on Wednesday, Governor Yegor Kovalchuk said on Telegram.
The Ukrainian Emergency Service said two people were killed in a Russian attack on a high-rise building in the Sviatoshinsky district of the capital, Kyiv.