# Witkoff Pushes Putin to Restart Peace Talks

> U.S. envoy Witkoff urges Putin to restart Ukraine peace talks as Russia agrees to resume negotiations next month.
- Title: Witkoff Pushes Putin to Restart Peace Talks · Foreign Policy
- Summary: U.S. envoy Witkoff urges Putin to restart Ukraine peace talks as Russia agrees to resume negotiations next month. Russia agreed to restart U.S.-mediated…
- Keywords: steve witkoff, vladimir putin, ukraine, peace talks, russia, trump administration, zelensky, donetsk region, Witkoff, Pushes, Putin, Restart
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/21/witkoff-putin-russia-ukraine-peace-talks-zelensky-trump
- Author: Alexandra Sharp
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: steve witkoff, vladimir putin, ukraine, peace talks, russia, trump administration, zelensky, donetsk region
## Witkoff Meets Putin in St. Petersburg
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on October 21, 2026.
## Putin Agrees to Resume Talks
Russia confirmed Putin agreed to restart U.S.-mediated Ukraine peace talks as soon as next month.
## Putin Refuses Key Compromises
Russia refused to compromise on key demands including full control of occupied Donetsk region and halting Ukraine’s NATO ambitions.
## Trump's Stance on Ukraine
Trump expressed doubt that Zelensky wants to end the conflict, warning it would worsen for Ukraine if no deal is made.
## Zelensky's Response
Zelensky agreed to freeze Ukraine’s military front line while reiterating calls for a cease-fire.
## Ukraine Strikes Russian Infrastructure
Ukraine doubled down on strikes against Russian energy infrastructure after Moscow targeted Kyiv’s power grid.
## Trump Administration Views
The Trump administration called Witkoff’s meetings with Putin and Zelensky 'constructive' despite Ukraine’s ongoing attacks.
## Putin's Humanitarian Flattery
Witkoff praised Putin as a humanitarian, noting his release of a U.S. citizen detained since 2022.
## Russia's Conditions for Talks
Russia insists on a peace deal without a prior cease-fire and full control of Donetsk region.
## Ukraine's Military Actions
Ukraine continued strikes on Russian oil refineries after Moscow targeted Kyiv’s power grid.
## Trump's Energy Policy Shift
Trump praised the UK’s North Sea gas project as 'one of the greatest and most prosperous areas of OIL in the World' on Truth Social.
## Key takeaway

Russia agreed to restart U.S.-mediated Ukraine peace talks next month but refused to compromise on key demands including control of Donetsk region.