WASHINGTON, October 20. /TASS/. US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff hopes to visit Russia and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after holding talks with Vladimir Zelensky in Oslo on Tuesday, Barak Ravid, a correspondent for Axios and Israel’s Channel 12, said on X, citing sources.
According to the sources, Witkoff is currently flying to Oslo for a meeting with Zelensky scheduled for Tuesday. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, as well as representatives of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, the European Union leadership, and NATO, are expected to take part in the talks.
"The objective is to continue aligning on a comprehensive proposal that can form the basis for renewed negotiations with Russia," Ravid said.
According to one of his sources, Witkoff hopes to visit Russia after Oslo, where he intends to discuss with Putin the proposals developed jointly with Ukraine and European partners. Last week, representatives of the United States, Ukraine, and Europe worked on developing these proposals at the technical level. They include the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old US citizen convicted in Russia of fighting on the side of the Ukrainian armed forces.
"President Trump has directed an intensive process to develop a comprehensive peace proposal with Ukraine and Europe, and the next step is to test whether that work can form the basis for serious negotiations with Russia", a US official told Ravid, adding. "These discussions remain fluid, and substantial work remains. President Trump’s objective is clear: to end the killing, bring the war to a close, and establish the conditions for a lasting peace that benefits Ukraine, Russia, Europe, and the United States."
Jared Kushner, a special envoy and son-in-law of the US president, will not accompany Witkoff in person this time because he has the flu. He will participate in the consultations remotely.
On October 1, Putin said Russia would like to end hostilities in Ukraine through a peaceful settlement as soon as possible. Moscow is ready for negotiations but sees no willingness on the part of the Kiev government to engage in talks, the president added.