A key outcome of the discussions was the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American citizen who had been detained in Russia for more than four years. Video obtained by CNN showed Hubbard speaking with Witkoff at Pulkovo Airport after the meeting. Witkoff also praised Putin in a clip released on Russian state media, calling the Russian leader “a humanitarian” and thanking him for lifting a ban on diesel exports, which Witkoff said would help reduce prices for American farmers and truckers.
The meeting took place one day after Witkoff held a summit described as “productive” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo, Norway. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre suggested that Russia may be entering a phase where it is looking for opportunities for diplomacy. Ushakov indicated that the next round of trilateral talks could take place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The talks are intended to focus on establishing a “security framework” or system for both Russia and Ukraine following the end of the conflict, though Moscow did not provide details on its specific demands.
Despite the diplomatic engagement, significant obstacles remain. Russia’s previous demands include the cession of the entire Donbas region, which is mostly under Russian occupation, a drastic reduction of Ukraine’s military, and a pledge that Ukraine will never join NATO. Zelensky, who remained in Oslo on Wednesday, has stated that freezing the conflict is the “minimum” required from Russia to end the war. He has also insisted that only a summit of leaders can break the diplomatic impasse. The two armies remain locked in combat on the battlefield, with daily long-range strikes continuing; Russian strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv overnight killed three people, according to local mayors.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that Moscow is willing to listen to new US proposals but did not expect an immediate resolution. Previous trilateral negotiations held in Abu Dhabi and Geneva earlier this year resulted in little progress beyond prisoner exchanges. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, joined the St. Petersburg discussion via video link. While Putin expressed interest in restoring economic cooperation with the United States and potentially meeting with China to discuss Ukraine, no indications emerged that Russia has altered its maximalist positions on the war’s outcome.
