Putin Keeps Waging War While Calling for Peace Talks: Trump Puts a Gun to Ukraine's Head

Vladimir Putin welcomes American peace envoys to a czarist palace while his army continues waging war against Ukraine. At the Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, the Russian president spent nearly 3 hours with Steve Witkoff. It was already their 9th face-to-face meeting. Afterward, the Kremlin announced that Putin was ready to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States. Representatives from all 3 countries could meet in Abu Dhabi as early as November 10. The talks would focus on security guarantees after the war. The very man who ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine is now negotiating how safe his victims will be allowed to feel in the future.

To kick things off, Putin released Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned in Russia. Donald Trump had requested his release. A friendly gesture, conveniently timed to coincide with the American envoy's arrival. One man gets his freedom back while the freedom of an invaded country remains subject to Russian demands. Even prison doors can make an excellent welcoming committee in the world of diplomacy.

"Give all my best to President Putin," Stephen Hubbard tells Kremlin envoys Kirill Dmitriev and Steve Witkoff.

During his election campaign, Trump promised to end the war within 24 hours. More than 2 years later, the American administration is once again letting Putin explain the conditions under which he would be willing to make peace. On Tuesday, Trump threatened Ukraine, saying it had to end the war or something "very bad" would happen. The threat was aimed at the country whose cities Russia is attacking. Meanwhile, the Kremlin continues to demand complete control over Donetsk and Ukraine's permanent exclusion from NATO membership. Putin also wants a comprehensive peace agreement instead of a temporary ceasefire. His territorial demands remain unchanged.

Witkoff had previously met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Oslo, accompanied by the leaders of Finland and Norway, along with European and NATO representatives. Washington said Ukraine had presented new proposals. Witkoff told Putin there had been some progress toward an agreement. After the meeting, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said the details were far from entirely satisfactory to Moscow. What a generous negotiating arrangement: The country under attack is expected to make concessions while the aggressor gets to decide whether those concessions go far enough.

The last U.S.-mediated peace talks took place in February, before the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran. Witkoff now brought new documents to St. Petersburg. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, also contributed proposals and later joined the meeting by phone. Zelenskyy supports talks with Putin and Trump on the major points of contention. Moscow insists on careful preparation before any face-to-face meeting between the presidents. The willingness to talk again has so far produced no change whatsoever in Russia's war aims.

While Putin negotiates inside the palace, concerns are growing in Kyiv over Washington's behavior. In early October, the United States struck a diesel deal with Russia. Since then, Ukraine has complained about interruptions in American intelligence sharing and problems with the military satellite system Starshield. Information about Russian attacks can mean the difference between life and death. After the Oslo meeting, Zelenskyy said an agreement had been reached to resolve those problems. There were also reports that Elon Musk had personally ordered the slowdown of a military version of Starlink that helps Ukraine detect Russian ballistic missiles. That allegation has not yet been independently confirmed. Musk says such decisions are up to the U.S. military or the president. Trump denies responsibility. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insists that Washington has not restricted Ukraine's access to Starlink.

For Putin, the visit presented other opportunities as well. Russia could help Trump negotiate over Iran's nuclear program, he said. Moscow has maintained relations with Tehran for decades, and an agreement is both possible and necessary. Putin also offered to supply American farmers with large quantities of fertilizer. Together with his special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, he discussed major economic projects, some of which, according to the Kremlin, are close to becoming reality.

A possible meeting with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November was also discussed. According to Russia, Beijing is already preparing what would be the first gathering of its kind in history. Apparently, the war has done nothing to stop Russian diplomacy from looking for new business opportunities.

Putin can offer peace talks as often as he likes. Russia continues its war of aggression and maintains demands that strike deep into Ukraine's sovereignty. Meanwhile, Trump is increasing pressure on Kyiv as relations between Washington and Ukraine grow increasingly strained. New peace documents lie on the table at the Konstantin Palace. Their contents are open to negotiation. Responsibility for this war is not.