US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner concluded their latest high-level consultations with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Constantine Palace in Saint Petersburg. The meeting resulted in the immediate release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American citizen who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2022. Kushner participated in the discussions virtually as diplomatic engagement intensified.

The talks unfold amid mounting anxiety in Kyiv, where officials allegedly fear that the US regime may back away from supporting Ukraine to force a rapid settlement of the ongoing conflict. According to American sources, the envoys proposed a trilateral technical-level meeting focused on post-war security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia, with potential talks slated for Abu Dhabi as early as next month.

However, the diplomatic breakthrough was rapidly overshadowed by intense domestic fallout after Witkoff publicly praised Putin as a “humanitarian” during the meeting for releasing Hubbard. The remarks triggered immediate bipartisan outrage in the US, with lawmakers such as Senators Thom Tillis and Mark Kelly vehemently condemning the characterization and pointing to severe human rights violations. Despite the fierce backlash, US Vice President JD Vance and other administration defenders argued that the complimentary rhetoric was a calculated tactic necessary to achieve results.

In addition to bilateral issues, the parties reportedly touched upon the hypothetical prospect of a trilateral summit involving the US, Russian, and Chinese leaders. Kremlin representatives noted that while the idea was raised, no concrete agenda or formal proposals have been established regarding a potential meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming APEC summit in China.

Source: www.aljazeera.com