US envoy Steve Witkoff lands in St. Petersburg for Russia peace talks

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in St. Petersburg to initiate peace talks with Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev. Prior discussions in Oslo with President Zelensky and European allies aimed to set the stage for potential leader-level meetings. However, U.S.-Ukraine relations are strained, raising concerns about military support. Zelensky expressed hope that Witkoff would convey Ukraine's proposals to Russia, facilitating a trilateral meeting. Meanwhile, Trump questioned the necessity of a direct meeting between leaders, and Putin has avoided meeting Zelensky, preferring to negotiate with Trump instead. Witkoff may also discuss the release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, detained by Russian forces.