On Wednesday, Vladimir Putin met US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg, following a day when Witkoff had discussed a potential peace framework with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway.
The meeting covered Ukraine, the release of an American prisoner, economic ties, diesel exports, and a possible Putin‑Trump meeting in China. Hubbard, a 74‑year‑old retired teacher from Michigan, had been sentenced to nearly seven years for fighting as a mercenary. Witkoff thanked Putin, saying, "Because of you, he's going home to his family."
Putin also pushed for a trilateral talks framework among Russia, Ukraine and the United States to iron out technical issues of a peace agreement. He hinted at restoring US‑Russia economic cooperation, as Russia prepares to send its first diesel shipment to the United States.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed that the initial shipment would carry 40,000 metric tons of diesel, with further supplies expected. He added, "We will meet the United States' needs, to the extent of our capabilities," according to RIA.
The talks come amid growing strains between Washington and Kyiv over sanctions waivers and the import of Russian fuel, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warning Moscow would not make political concessions.