The primary objective of the St. Petersburg meeting is to create a pathway toward direct trilateral and broader multilateral negotiations, according to the U.S. official. The White House hopes the updated proposal will encourage Putin to show more willingness to compromise, following recent U.S. steps welcomed by Moscow, including the lifting of sanctions on Russian diesel sales.
On Tuesday, Witkoff met with Zelensky in Oslo alongside the leaders of Norway and Finland, as well as representatives from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the European Union, and NATO. The discussions focused on developing a unified proposal for a “framework agreement” to end the war. The U.S. official described the talks as “constructive” and stated that participants made “meaningful progress” and achieved “strong alignment at the working level” on next steps.
The talks covered key elements of a comprehensive peace framework, including security guarantees for Ukraine, a post-war economic plan, and a broader European security architecture. Zelensky stated that Ukraine brought forward new ideas and proposals, which were discussed in detail during the Oslo session.
During the Oslo talks, Kushner joined virtually and pressed Trump’s demand that Ukraine halt strikes on Russian oil refineries. A source with knowledge of the meetings described Kushner as “very direct.” Zelensky responded after the meeting by stating that Ukraine is prepared to cease strikes on Russian oil refineries if Moscow takes reciprocal steps. Russia has so far refused to agree to a trilateral meeting involving Zelensky, Putin, and Trump, a format Zelensky identified on Tuesday as the next necessary step.
President Trump expressed doubt on Tuesday that Zelensky is committed to ending the war, stating, “If he does not, it’s gonna be a very bad thing.” Trump added that the U.S. wants Zelensky to make a deal, warning that if they do not, the situation will simply get worse for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Trump suggested that Russia “would like to get it done,” though he did not provide further details on Moscow’s specific intentions.
The diplomatic push follows a period of heightened tension, with the U.S. seeking to leverage its position to broker a comprehensive settlement. The Oslo talks represent a significant effort to align Western European and U.S. positions before engaging directly with Moscow. The outcome of Witkoff’s meeting with Putin on Wednesday will determine whether the proposed framework gains traction or if diplomatic efforts stall.
