The Kremlin has criticized the new peace proposals to end the war in Ukraine, describing them as lacking “substance,” after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. The meeting followed Witkoff’s talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. Despite the cold response from Russia, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed to be “closer than ever” to ending the war. Witkoff’s meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo aimed to ease a rift between the Ukrainian president and Trump.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Russia was “in principle, ready to resume” trilateral talks in mid-November, after the U.S. midterm elections, wanting them to focus on post-war security. Ushakov added that Witkoff informed Putin about “some new aspects” from the Oslo meeting, but without much substance. Zelenskyy supported resuming the talks as soon as possible. Witkoff described his talks with Putin as “constructive,” but stressed that “there is still important work to be done,” with discussions to continue at the technical level.
However, the U.S. envoy has faced harsh criticism after describing Putin as “humanitarian,” following the release of U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard from a Russian prison. Republican Senator Thom Tillis expressed indignation, while Trump avoided comment. U.S. Vice President JD Vance backed Witkoff, emphasizing the release of the hostage. Hubbard’s release, a 74-year-old former teacher who had been imprisoned for more than four years, was seen as a calculated move by Moscow to bring Trump closer to Putin’s position on Ukraine and to offer him a diplomatic victory.
Meanwhile, attacks continue in Ukraine. Missiles struck Kyiv in the early hours of Thursday, after a Russian air attack wounded six people. Russia earlier continued to hit Ukrainian cities, with Kyiv officials saying the attacks killed at least four people. Russian occupation authorities in Luhansk reported two people killed by a Ukrainian drone attack. Moscow’s mayor said 630 drones were launched toward the region overnight, wounding two people, with most of them destroyed by air defenses. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said decisions on Ukraine’s access to Starlink belonged to SpaceX and Elon Musk, not the White House, suggesting possible restrictions. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had ordered the slowing of a military version of Starlink. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said the U.S. has resumed sharing intelligence with Kyiv on Russian missile strikes after the meeting in Norway.
Taken from The Guardian