US envoy Witkoff in talks with Vladimir Putin about Ukraine – Europe reside | Europe
Witkoff assembly Putin in St Petersburg
Witkoff is now speaking to Putin, based on Russian state media.
The pair is assembly in Saint Petersburg’s Konstantinovsky Palace. Putin is joined by Dmitriev, who picked up Witkoff from the airport earlier.
We will little question hear and hopefully see extra from the assembly shortly.
Key occasions
During their preliminary change, relayed by way of the Russian state information company Tass, Putin reportedly mentioned that he was concerned about restoring ties and financial cooperation with the US, as he praised the diesel take care of Trump.
He additionally recalled Trump’s feedback on the necessity to finish the Russian battle of aggression in Ukraine to cease the lack of human life, and requested concerning the talks in Oslo.
In flip, Witkoff mentioned he hoped Putin would take into account resuming peace talks with the US and Ukraine for “technical discussions,” and mentioned the Oslo assembly was productive, with “a basis in place to maneuver towards a ceasefire.”
Let’s see if we get any extra element after the assembly.
Russia releases American man imprisoned for preventing in Ukraine
It seems just like the hosts had one thing particular lined up for the US visitors…
Russia has launched an American man imprisoned on fees of preventing as mercenary in Ukraine, US envoy Witkoff says.
Agencies determine him as Stephen Hubbard, arrested in 2024.
Witkoff assembly Putin in St Petersburg
Witkoff is now speaking to Putin, based on Russian state media.
The pair is assembly in Saint Petersburg’s Konstantinovsky Palace. Putin is joined by Dmitriev, who picked up Witkoff from the airport earlier.
We will little question hear and hopefully see extra from the assembly shortly.
Republicans push again on Donald Trump’s wavering assist for Ukraine
Ariana Baio
Overnight, a handful of Republicans have spoken out in opposition to Donald Trump’s softening stance on Russia, threatening to tug monetary assist for his agenda over his “embarrassing” dealing with of the Ukraine battle.
Don Bacon, an outgoing congressman in Nebraska, condemned Trump’s actions – which embrace a stunning agreement to buy Russian diesel and the pausing of sanctions on Moscow – as “completely disgraceful” and accused the US president of cozying as much as a “battle prison” in Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart.
“It actually is disgraceful, and the Republicans that I affiliate with, there’s quite a lot of us, can’t stand it,” Bacon told CNN on Monday. “I feel the president’s leverage on this Congress is shot.”
Last week, Trump waived sanctions imposed on Russia via a law named after his longtime ally and late senator Lindsey Graham. The laws, which he signed solely final month, was supposed to extend monetary stress on Russia, greater than 4 years after it invaded Ukraine.
Instead, Trump introduced he had struck a take care of Putin to import diesel gas, which has change into dearer for Americans largely resulting from Trump’s battle with Iran. Trump has previously blamed Ukraine’s strikes on Russia.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption police search National Bank premises
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s anti-corruption police mentioned that detectives have been looking out the premises of the National Bank of Ukraine and likewise the residence deal with of one in all the central financial institution’s staff, Reuters reported.
The anti-corruption police mentioned in an announcement on the Telegram app that nobody has been detained or issued a suspicion discover. The central financial institution did not instantly reply to a request for remark.
Morning opening: Witkoff meets Putin in St Petersburg for talks on Ukraine
Jakub Krupa
US particular envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Saint Petersburg early morning for talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin about Ukraine, a day after holding discussions with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the leaders of Norway and Finland.
Witkoff was met at Pulkovo Airport by the Kremlin’s advisor for global financial cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev.
Let’s see how a lot of the constructive tone expressed by Zelenskyy and the 2 European leaders after yesterday’s talks will maintain on the finish of the day.
But managing out expectations, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov mentioned he “didn’t know if any settlement will likely be reached in the present day,” Russian information company Interfax mentioned.
Elsewhere, I will likely be searching for updates from France and Italy, as each nations step up their response to latest protests and riots that disrupted on a regular basis life.
Lots to cowl.
It’s Wednesday, 21 October 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Live.
Good morning.
