Vladimir Putin greets Donald Trump’s envoy, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 21, 2026
EA-Ukraine VideoCasts: Donald Trump’s Betrayal and Alliance with Putin
Wednesday’s Coverage: After Talks With Zelensky, Trump Envoy Witkoff Meets Putin
Putting further pressure on Donald Trump, the Kremlin has rejected the proposals brought by his envoy Steve Witkoff to end Russia’s 56-month full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Even as Witkoff was meeting Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov was briefing journalists, “He mentioned some new aspects in the approaches of the Europeans and Kyiv…but there wasn’t really much substance in them.”
The Kremlin was careful not to rule out completely the notion of Ukraine-Russia talks brokered by the US. “Our President informed Steve Witkoff that we are, in principle, ready to resume the mentioned talks.”
Russia’s Interfax news agency said trilateral talks could take place in Abu Dhabi in the UAE in mid-November.
Before the discussions, the Kremlin continued its manipulation of Witkoff and Trump with the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard, 74. The political prisoner was seized by Russian forces on the frontline in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine in April 2022.
In the press appearance before the closed-door talks, real estate developer Witkoff gushed that Putin — wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes — was a “great humanitarian”.
The envoy ignored the Kremlin’s rejection in his later statement. He said talks were “constructive” but “there is still important work left to do”. Discussions will continue between the US, Ukraine, and Russia at the technical level.
Russia Returns to Strikes on Ukraine’s Civilians
The Russians sent another signal overnight with more strikes on Kyiv, wounding 21 people. They damaged subway infrastructure on the Southern Bridge over the Dnipro River, restricting traffic.
In the Kharkiv region in the northeast, a woman was murdered and four people by the Russians. A drone hit energy infrastructure in the Kremenchuk area in the Poltava region in central Ukraine.
Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted:
Overnight, Kyiv residents heard what Russian "humanism" truly sounds like: a brutal attack with dozens of ballistic missiles striking energy infrastructure, medical facilities, shopping centers, and residential areas. Other cities across Ukraine came under attack as well. Appeasement, servility, and flattery will not stop this war. Only strength will.
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) October 22, 2026
