US envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in St Petersburg for discussions with Vladimir Putin after what officials described as constructive talks with Ukraine and European leaders in Oslo.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says intelligence sharing with the United States on Russian missile strikes is working again, following renewed diplomatic engagement aimed at finding a way to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The statement came after Zelensky met US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday. Witkoff subsequently travelled to St Petersburg, Russia, for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
The discussions form part of US President Donald Trump’s efforts to advance a potential settlement to the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Zelensky Welcomes Resumption of Intelligence Sharing
Speaking after the Oslo meeting, Zelensky expressed gratitude for the restoration of US intelligence support, particularly early warnings about potential Russian missile attacks.
Ukraine had recently complained that it was not receiving crucial intelligence from its partners, raising concerns about the country’s ability to prepare for attacks. Washington disputed accusations that the situation amounted to a deliberate attempt to put Ukrainian lives at risk.
The renewed intelligence cooperation was among the important developments discussed during the Oslo talks, alongside security guarantees and possible next steps towards ending the war.
US Envoy Takes Proposals to Russia
Witkoff’s visit to Russia followed discussions involving Zelensky, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. European and NATO representatives were also involved in the wider diplomatic discussions.
A US official described the Oslo meeting as productive and constructive, saying there was strong alignment at the working level among the United States, Ukraine and European partners on the next steps.
Stubb said progress had been made on proposals intended to move the peace process forward, while cautioning that patience would be necessary.
Witkoff’s task in Russia is to present ideas discussed with Ukraine and its European partners and assess Moscow’s response. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has indicated that Moscow is prepared to hear the proposals but has ruled out political concessions.
Trump Urges Ukraine to Reach an Agreement
The diplomatic initiative comes amid strained relations between Trump and Zelensky. Trump has publicly urged Ukraine to negotiate an end to the conflict and has criticised Kyiv’s continued attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
The tensions have raised questions about the future level of US support for Ukraine and the terms Washington might support in a potential settlement.
Zelensky, meanwhile, has insisted that Ukraine must be involved in decisions concerning its future and any agreement to end the war. Kyiv has also emphasised the need for credible security guarantees to prevent renewed Russian aggression.
Russian Attacks Continue as Diplomacy Advances
Despite the diplomatic efforts, Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory have continued.
Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes on Tuesday killed at least 10 people in Kyiv and its surrounding region, the eastern Donetsk region and the central city of Dnipro. A further overnight attack near Kharkiv reportedly killed two more people.
The casualty figures were reported by Ukrainian authorities and reflect the situation described in the supplied report.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and continues to control a significant portion of Ukrainian territory.
The outcome of Witkoff’s discussions with Putin could help determine whether the proposals considered in Oslo lead to further negotiations. However, major disagreements over territory, security guarantees and the terms of a settlement remain unresolved.
