US envoy meets with Zelensky and Putin in diplomatic push to end war in Ukraine

On October 20-21, 2026, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff held high-level diplomatic talks in Oslo to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The meetings involved Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, representatives from the E4 group (Britain, France, Germany, and Poland), and officials from the EU and NATO. Jared Kushner participated in the discussions remotely. Following the talks, which were described as productive, officials noted a stronger alignment between the U.S., Ukraine, and European partners regarding a potential peace agreement.

Following the Oslo sessions, Steve Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg on October 21 to present updated proposals to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This initiative follows reports that the U.S. has resumed sharing warnings regarding Russian ballistic missile attacks, while the Trump administration has signaled a potential shift in policy, including the lifting of sanctions on Russian diesel sales. The Kremlin expressed hope that this meeting would facilitate a broader exchange of views on key issues. As of now, the international community is monitoring the outcome of the direct dialogue between the American envoy and President Putin to see if it leads to a viable path toward de-escalation.