Trump envoy Witkoff heads to St. Petersburg to prepare possible leaders' meeting
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to St. Petersburg to meet Russian leadership, which Norway's prime minister said could pave the way for a leaders' meeting. Donald Trump said Putin and Zelensky do not necessarily have to be in the same room for a peace deal.
Steve Witkoff, special envoy of US President Donald Trump, is due to fly to St. Petersburg the next day to meet Russian leadership and discuss possible peace proposals for the war in Ukraine. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced this at a news conference in Oslo. He said the visit could help pave the way for a meeting at leaders' level.
Støre said Witkoff would exchange ideas and proposals developed by European and American colleagues. Politico reported, without quoting Støre directly, that Witkoff would offer Russian President Vladimir Putin direct talks with Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky: let's see what Putin says
After meeting Witkoff in Oslo, Zelensky said one of the important ideas was to move toward a potential trilateral meeting of the leaders, to address issues that only leaders can resolve. He added that Witkoff was going to Russia the next day and that it remained to be seen what Putin had to say.
Trump: same room not required
When reporters asked Trump whether Putin and Zelensky needed to be in the same room to reach a peace agreement, he said it depends. In his words, they do not have to be in the same room, and it could be done another way. Trump added that he does not care how it is done and acknowledged that it would be hard for the two to share a room.
The source does not say when a possible leaders' meeting might take place.
