Witkoff asks Putin to resume direct peace talks, Russia releases U.S. detainee

White House envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow the resumption of trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. in order to reach an end to the war.

Why it matters: The White House hopes Putin will show more willingness to compromise after President Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Russian diesel sales and took other steps welcomed by Moscow.

Driving the news: Witkoff presented Putin with an updated proposal to end the war in Ukraine during a meeting in St.

Petersburg.

Before the meeting, Russia released U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard, 74, who had spent more than four years in captivity after being seized by Russian troops in eastern Ukraine in April 2022.

Putin announced his release at the top of the meeting with Witkoff.

"He is at Pulkovo Airport," Putin told Witkoff in front of the cameras.

"Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family.

The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return - an unprecedented situation for Russia.

There was no 'swap' necessary for this release," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

State of play: Witkoff arrived in Russia after a day of talks in Oslo , Norway, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as the leaders of Norway and Finland and representatives from France, the U.K., Germany, Poland, the EU and NATO.

Zelensky said Tuesday that the next step should be a trilateral meeting between him, Putin and Trump — a format Russia has so far rejected.

The discussions in Oslo focused on developing a unified proposal for a "framework agreement" to end the war.

What he is saying: "I believe the talks [in Oslo] were productive, and I would like to say that there is progress, and I will update you on this.