The Kremlin has dismissed new Ukraine peace proposals as lacking substance after US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday. The Russian side indicated that the terms drafted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo earlier this week did not meet Moscow’s expectations.
Kremlin Response to Oslo Draft
Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to the Russian president, stated that while Russia was “in principle, ready to resume” trilateral talks in mid-November, the current proposals offered little value. Ushakov told reporters that Witkoff briefed Putin on “some new aspects in the approaches of the Europeans and Kyiv” but added that “there wasn’t really much substance in them.”
Despite the cold reception from Moscow, US President Donald Trump characterized the diplomatic efforts as “the closest we’ve been” to ending the war. The meeting in Russia followed a session in Norway aimed at repairing the rift between Trump and Zelenskyy.
Ushakov noted that Russia wanted the upcoming talks to focus on postwar security arrangements. Zelenskyy has expressed support for resuming these trilateral discussions as soon as possible.
Witkoff and Domestic Controversy
Witkoff described his discussions with Putin as “constructive” but acknowledged that “there is still important work left to do.” He confirmed that technical-level discussions would continue between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia.
The envoy faces sharp criticism at home for describing Putin as a “humanitarian” after the Russian leader agreed to free US citizen Stephen Hubbard. Hubbard, a 74-year-old former teacher, had spent more than four years in Russian jails on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis questioned Witkoff’s characterization on social media, asking followers to look up the definition of the term. Vice President JD Vance defended the envoy, stating he agreed with Witkoff for saying something nice about a person who released an American hostage. Trump brushed off the controversy, saying he would not take a side on the matter.
Putin’s order to release Hubbard appeared to be a calculated move to align Trump with Moscow’s position on Ukraine while offering the US president a diplomatic victory before the midterm elections. Trump claimed on social media that the United States was not required to give anything in return for the release.
Ongoing Conflict and Starlink Access
Violence continues across Ukraine. Missiles struck Kyiv in the early hours of Thursday, following a Russian airstrike that injured six people and damaged homes, a petrol station, and transport equipment. Kyiv officials reported that Russian strikes killed at least four people, including an elderly couple in the eastern Kharkiv region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that decisions regarding Ukraine’s access to Starlink are up to SpaceX and Elon Musk, not the White House. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had ordered a slowdown of a military-grade version of Starlink that Ukraine relies on for defense against missile attacks.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said the US has resumed sharing intelligence with Kyiv about Russian missile strikes after the Norway meeting with Witkoff.
Source: The Guardian
