U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday to discuss proposals aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This diplomatic engagement follows a meeting Witkoff held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo, which a U.S. official characterized as constructive.

These high-level discussions arrive at a critical juncture, with Ukraine having previously accused the U.S. of withholding crucial intelligence, an assertion Washington had dismissed. However, President Zelensky stated on Tuesday that intelligence sharing with the U.S. concerning Russian missile attacks is now functioning effectively. Both Zelensky and his European allies have indicated that the onus is now on Russia to respond to the proposals that were agreed upon in Oslo.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who also participated in the Oslo talks, reported that genuine progress was made on peace proposals. While he offered no specific details, Stubb cautioned that patience would be a necessary component in the path toward resolution. Witkoff was not present at the joint press conference following the Oslo discussions, but Trump's son-in-law and fellow envoy, Jared Kushner, joined the meeting via video link.

A U.S. official later described the meetings as "very productive and constructive," noting a "strong alignment at the working level among the U.S., Ukraine and Europe on the next steps." The official confirmed Witkoff's planned meeting with President Putin and Kushner's virtual participation.

President Putin has not yet publicly commented on these recent developments. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated earlier that the Kremlin would listen to Witkoff's proposals but ruled out any political concessions. Relations between Ukraine and the U.S. have seen recent strains, with former President Trump suggesting it was time for Ukraine to seek new leadership or a different negotiator.

Amid rising fuel prices, which have been attributed to attacks on Russian oil refineries since the beginning of the U.S.-led war on Iran, former President Trump has also sought to link these issues to Ukraine. Speaking after Zelensky's news conference, Trump reiterated his desire for Kyiv to reach a settlement, suggesting that Russia was amenable to concluding the conflict and that it was time for Ukraine to end the war.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Moscow currently occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. Russian drone attacks have persisted throughout the week, with Ukrainian officials reporting at least 10 fatalities on Tuesday across Kyiv, the Donetsk region, and Dnipro. An overnight attack on Wednesday near Kharkiv resulted in two additional deaths.

The upcoming meeting between Witkoff and Putin represents a significant diplomatic effort to de-escalate the conflict, despite the recent public disagreements and the ongoing military actions on the ground. The focus remains on whether Russia will engage constructively with the proposals discussed in Oslo.