U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Oct. 21 to discuss the Oslo meetings, as Moscow maintained its position on a proposed energy ceasefire with Ukraine.
The Kremlin confirmed the meeting and said the two discussed the Oslo talks. Before the trip, Ukraine’s presidential office said Witkoff planned to relay the discussions to Russian officials and later brief Kyiv.
At an Oct. 21 briefing in St. Petersburg, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s position on an energy ceasefire had not changed, Anadolu Agency reported. “We need peace, not a truce,” Peskov told reporters. He said a settlement depended on Ukraine taking part and Ukrainian officials making a decision.
At an Oct. 20 news conference in Oslo, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would stop strikes on selected Russian energy facilities if Moscow halted attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy said Russian President Vladimir Putin had rejected the reciprocal offer and that Russian attacks continued after Ukraine backed a U.S. proposal for an energy ceasefire.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the Oslo talks covered a partial ceasefire intended to protect energy and food security, according to Ukraine’s presidential office. Peskov said Stubb’s involvement would add little if he merely repeated Europe’s existing position.
