Witkoff calls Putin a humanitarian as US talks with Russia stall on Ukraine

Witkoff's Oslo and Petersburg trip

US envoy Steve Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo on 20 October 2026, with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere also taking part. On 21 October he flew to Saint Petersburg to meet Vladimir Putin. That evening he returned to Oslo, swapped his formal clothes for jeans and trainers, and spoke with Stoere aboard his jet for just over an hour. Stoere later told the broadcaster NRK that the sides had agreed in principle to a high-level trilateral meeting of Russia, the United States and Ukraine, probably in mid-November. He added that Witkoff had likely shared with Putin the work done on a ceasefire that would secure Black Sea grain and energy exports, though he gave no details of the Petersburg talks.

Praise for Putin and Republican backlash

In Saint Petersburg, Witkoff praised Putin as a humanitarian and paid him tribute, remarks that Russian state media recorded and that spread widely online. He also thanked Putin for releasing a 74-year-old American who lives in Izium, Ukraine, and whom Russia had captured and convicted of allegedly fighting for the Ukrainian army. Senator Thom Tillis, who is leaving the Senate soon, called the remarks embarrassing and outrageous and told Witkoff to ask the families of children Putin abducted whether they agree. Senator John Cornyn wrote that Putin is a ruthless murderer. Tillis is one of several politicians criticising the administration's recent shift toward Moscow, including its move away from imposing sanctions under the bill named after Lindsey Graham. Trump has said many critics called him to apologise, argued that the release would not have been possible without dropping those sanctions, and insisted the United States gave Russia nothing in return.

Talks stall and the Kremlin's position

BBC Russia correspondent Steve Rosenberg judged that the latest US diplomacy has produced no breakthrough toward ending the war. He argued that Putin feels no pressure to end the conflict because Trump wants closer and more profitable relations with Moscow. Rosenberg considers a meeting of the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and the United States, which Zelensky has pressed for, unlikely soon. The Kremlin wants a meeting of the leaders of Russia, the United States and China first, which Rosenberg said would put Putin among the world's leading politicians after nearly five years of war. Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said the Ukrainian and European position Witkoff brought from Oslo was not particularly useful for resolving the crisis. Reuters reported that Putin agreed to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine with US participation, and the Kremlin said on 21 October that talks could begin in November 2026.

Fighting continues across Ukraine

Russian attacks continued while the diplomacy unfolded. Overnight from 20 to 21 October, three people were killed in attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv. The United Nations said 328 civilians were killed in September in Russian attacks. Russia is also still striking Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which raises concern about the coming winter. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023 over the alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied territories to Russia.