US envoy Steve Witkoff in Russia for talks with Putin to end Ukraine war

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in St. Petersburg, and he is due to meet the Russian President Vladimir Putin. It's the latest in a series of high-level talks to end the war in Ukraine. On Tuesday, Witkoff was in Oslo, where he met the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Okay, let's speak to our correspondent, Yulia Shapovalova, joining us from Moscow. So, as we're saying, Witkoff has now arrived in St. Petersburg. What's he bringing this time around, Julia. Well, of course, Vladimir Putin is about to meet Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. Negotiations are to take place at the Konstantinovsky Palace. Reportedly, it's expected that Witkoff intends to offer Vladimir Putin a trilateral meeting with Trump and Zelensky to discuss a settlement in Ukraine. So basically, before his trip to Russia, as you mentioned, the U.S. presidential envoy met with President Zelensky and European representatives in Oslo. The discussions here are going to touch upon very sensitive issues, including proposed demilitarized zone as well as free economic zones there in Ukraine, security guarantees for both countries and the status of Russian-held territories there. The talks basically aim to gauge Moscow's opinion on the new diplomatic terms and potentially pave the way for a higher-level meeting between the country's top leaders. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also confirmed Russia's readiness for dialogue, saying that the Kremlin expects a briefing from Witkoff regarding the outcome of his recent talks in Oslo with those European leaders and Vladimir Zelensky. And also the Trump administration is trying to secure the release and return of a group of U.S. citizens who, as Washington believes, are being held here in Russia on questionable charges. Yulia, look, a lot of people will say, well, we've been here before. But is there anything to suggest this time around that peace could perhaps be closer than ever? Well, that's a good question. Here in Russia, people are pretty skeptical about the end of this war. And obviously, this is not the first time Steve Witkoff has arrived in Russia. He's been here many times before together with and without also a special representative of Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, who is expected to join the conversation online. So basically, gradually the process is moving ahead, moving forward. But, well, frankly speaking, we need to wait and see how today's meeting is going to play out and what is going to be said after it. Okay, we'll be checking in with you throughout the day. Thank you so much for that reporting from Moscow this hour.