Witkoff traveled to Russia immediately after meeting Zelensky in Norway

US envoy delivers peace proposal documents to Putin

US President Donald Trump (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. [AFP]
US President Donald Trump (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. [AFP]

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with a US presidential envoy to discuss proposals for ending the war in Ukraine and economic cooperation between the two countries. Russia also released an American citizen it had detained on charges of mercenary activity in Ukraine.

Putin met with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday (local time), according to TASS and other foreign media outlets. Witkoff traveled to Russia immediately after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Norway on Tuesday.

At the meeting, Putin said Russia could supply more fertilizer to the United States. Witkoff expressed gratitude for Russia's commitment to supplying its oil to global markets.

Witkoff said economic ties between the two countries could develop once the conflict in Ukraine ends.

Putin also expressed interest in restoring economic relations with the United States, according to reports. The two sides discussed the possibility of a meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China in November.

Witkoff delivered documents outlining a US proposal for ending the war in Ukraine and asked Putin to consider resuming US-mediated negotiations.

Ahead of the meeting, the Russian government released American citizen Stephen Hubbard, who had been detained since 2022 on charges of mercenary activity in Ukraine.

Hubbard's release had been a longstanding demand of Trump. According to the AP and other outlets, Trump said Tuesday at the Oval Office, "We have been focused on getting Hubbard out."

Trump also pressed Ukraine to show willingness to end the war, urging Kyiv to accept a peace agreement with Russia.


hyuk@heraldcorp.com