Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov criticized peace proposals brought from Oslo after Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday, exposing a divide over Ukraine diplomacy.
Ushakov said the ideas would contribute little toward a settlement. His assessment contrasted with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s description of the previous day’s discussions in Oslo as constructive. Støre said those talks covered Ukraine’s security, territorial questions, sanctions, a plan for prosperity after the war and Europe’s security order.
Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Finnish President Alexander Stubb alongside Støre in Oslo on Tuesday. U.S. envoy Jared Kushner joined by video. Støre said Witkoff would bring proposals developed with Ukraine, the United States and European partners to Russian leaders.
The Kremlin said Putin’s meeting with Witkoff at the Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg lasted about three hours. Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev also attended.
Despite his criticism, Ushakov said Moscow remained open in principle to three-way talks after Nov. 10. Zelenskyy has proposed a meeting of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia and the United States to address questions he said only they could settle. Ukraine’s presidential office said Witkoff would brief Kyiv after his Russian contacts. No date or venue has been announced for further talks.
