Trump Envoy Witkoff to Meet Putin on Oct. 21 With Revised Ukraine Peace Proposal

A White House envoy plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to present a new proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Axios reported on Oct. 20 that Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy for the Middle East, plans to meet Putin later that day in St. Petersburg to deliver a revised peace proposal. Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser, will also join the talks by video.

The meeting follows negotiations between the US and Ukraine held a day earlier in Oslo, Norway. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attended that meeting, along with the leaders of Norway and Finland and officials from France, the UK, Germany, Poland, the European Union and NATO.

The US said in Oslo that Ukraine had presented a new proposal and that there had been meaningful progress toward a basic agreement to end the war. The revised plan is focused on laying the groundwork for trilateral talks among the US, Ukraine and Russia, as well as broader multilateral peace negotiations.

A mutual halt to attacks on energy facilities was also a key item on the agenda. The US asked Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, and Zelenskiy said he was prepared to do so if Russia takes reciprocal steps.

The White House expects Putin to take a more flexible approach to peace talks after the Trump administration took steps that Russia viewed positively, including easing sanctions on sales of Russian diesel fuel.

Trump, however, questioned Zelenskiy's willingness to pursue a settlement. He argued that Russia wants to reach a deal and warned that the situation could worsen if Ukraine does not move forward with an agreement. Zelenskiy has proposed a trilateral summit involving the leaders of the US, Russia and Ukraine, but Russia has yet to accept the idea.