Russia announced it was prepared to resume talks with Ukraine and the United States to seek an end to the war after President Vladimir Putin held a meeting in St Petersburg with Steve Witkoff, who has been described as a special envoy for former US President Donald Trump.
The Kremlin meeting, confirmed by Russian sources, brought Mr Witkoff together with Mr Putin in the Russian city. Russian officials said the encounter was followed by a statement expressing readiness to return to negotiations involving Kyiv and Washington, though no detailed agenda or timetable for new talks was provided.
Analysts said the development may open a diplomatic channel between Moscow and US-linked interlocutors, but important questions remain about who would represent Ukraine in any renewed negotiations and what issues would be put on the table. The announcement did not outline specific concessions, security guarantees, or monitoring arrangements that might be needed to advance a settlement.
At the time of the announcement, there was no public confirmation from the US or Ukrainian governments about plans to re-enter talks or about direct follow-up meetings. Observers noted that moving from statements of readiness to concrete, verifiable negotiations typically requires preparatory discussions and agreement on formats and objectives from all parties involved.
The meeting in St Petersburg and Russia's subsequent statement roundly underscore the continued diplomatic interest in finding a resolution to the conflict, even as practical and political hurdles remain. Further clarity is expected if Washington, Kyiv or Moscow release more detailed accounts of what was discussed and any next steps agreed between the sides.