U.S. special envoy Steve Vitkoff meets Putin in Saint Petersburg

U.S. special envoy Steve Vitkoff arrived in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over proposals aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting follows Vitkoff’s discussions in Oslo the previous day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European participants.

Diplomatic initiative moves to Moscow’s doorstep

European leaders and Zelensky said that it is now Russia’s turn to respond to the Oslo proposals as Vitkoff travels to meet Putin. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who took part in the Oslo discussions, said there had been “real progress” but gave no further details and cautioned that patience would be necessary.

The Kremlin has not publicly commented on the latest developments. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said officials would hear what Vitkoff had to offer while rejecting the prospect of “any political concessions.” Vitkoff did not join the joint Oslo press conference on Tuesday.

The diplomatic move comes amid signs of strain in U.S.–Ukraine relations. In Washington, former U.S. President Donald Trump — speaking after Zelensky’s Oslo appearance — told reporters at the White House that he wants Kyiv “to make a deal.” He added that Russia would like “to finish the job” and said it was “time for Ukraine to end this war.”

Meanwhile, Russian drone attacks continued this week. Ukrainian authorities reported that at least 10 people were killed on Tuesday — four in Kyiv and the regions around the capital, four in the eastern Donetsk region and two in the central city of Dnipro. In a separate overnight strike, two more people were killed near Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city.

A widely circulated photo from April 11, 2025 shows Putin shaking hands with Vitkoff during an earlier encounter in Saint Petersburg.

Photo: EPA-EFE/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN / POOL MANDATORY CR