US mediator Witkoff discusses Ukraine with Putin

After talks in Oslo, US mediator Witkoff discusses Ukraine with Putin As of: October 21, 2026 • 11:37 a.m

After talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Oslo, US negotiator Witkoff met for negotiations with the Russian leadership in St. Petersburg. US President Trump had previously called on Zelensky to make a “deal”.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff was received in St. Petersburg by Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks about the war in Ukraine. The basis is Witkoff's talks yesterday in the Norwegian capital Oslo, in which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj and representatives from NATO and the EU took part.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rated the meeting in Oslo as “positive,” but nothing “unexpected or surprising” came of it. Witkoff will now “share the ideas with the Russian side.” “Then we’ll see if we can make progress,” said Rubio.

The central points of the discussions in Oslo included security guarantees for Ukraine, territorial questions, sanctions and European security after the war. At the end of the meeting, Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was convinced that a basis had been created to continue working on a solution to end the war. Støre also expressed the hope that Witkoff could pave the way for trilateral consultations in Moscow - with the USA, Russia and Ukraine at the same table. So far, the Kremlin has always rejected direct negotiations with Ukraine - or has given preconditions that are unacceptable for Ukraine.

"Rally-around-the-flag effect", Vassili Golod, ARD Kiev, on the summit between Trump, Xi and Putin Morning magazine, Das Erste, October 21, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. Trump on course for rapprochement with Moscow Despite the new attempts to find a diplomatic solution for peace in Ukraine, recent statements by US President Donald Trump in particular raised renewed doubts about how strong the USA's support for Ukraine still is. Shortly after the talks in Oslo, Trump claimed again that Russia was ready to end the war. He called on Zelensky to end the war with a “deal.” Trump also claimed again that the US had “given a lot” to Ukraine but “got absolutely nothing in return.”

Just a week and a half ago, Trump announced that Russia would supply the USA with hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel. A few days later, the US President suspended a recently passed sanctions package against Russia - out of "national interest".

Given the current talks about a possible end to the Ukraine war and Trump's recent statements, Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Ukraine's surrender is not an option. Because that would be tantamount to “surrendering from all of us.” Therefore, Ukraine will continue to be supported in its own interest.

US President Trump has called for Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to be replaced. more

In Ukraine, Trump's actions were met with incomprehension and sharp criticism. Ukrainian President Zelensky accused the USA of accepting that Russia would continue its war unhindered. Selenskyj had repeatedly complained about the lack of deliveries of armaments. Above all, the country's own military lacks defensive missiles. Recently, Ukraine also complained about a throttling of the satellite communication services Starlink and Starshield, which play an important role in the coordination of the Ukrainian army, the use of drones and their defense.

Another fear for Ukraine: that a possible peace could be negotiated over its head. Most recently, these fears were rekindled by reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin was seeking a meeting with Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November. Ukrainian President Zelensky urged participation in such a possible summit. There should be no talks about Ukraine without Ukraine.

"No talks about Ukraine without Ukraine" - unrest between Trump and Zelensky morning magazine, Das Erste, October 21, 2026 • 5:30 a.m. Ukraine and Russia report new attacks Despite ongoing mediation efforts to end the war, the Russian military attacked several regions in Ukraine during the night. Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyj said on Telegram that at least four people were killed in the attacks. Two people died when a drone hit a multi-story building in the capital Kiev, and two more in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

Korezkyj said Russia had "continuously" attacked energy facilities, railway facilities, shopping centers and residential buildings since Tuesday evening. The regions of Kyiv, Volhynia, Odessa and Mykolaiv were affected. According to Ukrainian authorities, further attacks targeted a university in Kremenchuk in the Poltava region. At least two people were injured there.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the attacks on Poltava and Kiev, Reuters news agency reported. A drone warehouse was attacked in Poltava, and a substation in Kiev that supplies the Ukrainian defense and industrial sectors as well as logistics centers with electricity.

The Russian side again reported drone attacks on the Leningrad region. This was announced by regional governor Alexander Drozdenko. The region in northwestern Russia surrounds the city of St. Petersburg, where the meeting between Putin and Witkoff is scheduled to take place. The Bryansk region was also the target of drone attacks, according to the regional governor there, Yegor Kovalchuk. He spoke on Telegram of at least one death and two injuries.

This topic in the program: The First | Morning magazine | Oct 21, 2026 | 05:30 BR24 Radio | News | Oct 21, 2026 | 6:30 a.m