Witkoff flies from Oslo to St Petersburg with proposals from the Oslo talks

Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy, has left Oslo for St Petersburg, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Reuters, the independent Russian channel Ostorozhno Novosti reported. The Kremlin confirmed the trip. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced the visit on October 20 at a joint press conference in Oslo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Støre said Witkoff would discuss the work produced by the Oslo talks and exchange views on ideas that European and American officials had developed, Mezha reported.

Japan's Jiji Press reported that Washington and Moscow may soon exchange detainees and that the envoy's visit could deliver it. Its headline also referred to the possible release of a former teacher. Witkoff had secured the release of Marc Fogel, an American teacher held in Russia, during an earlier trip in 2025.

The fighting continued while Witkoff was in the air. Russian air defenses destroyed 21 drones over the Kaluga region overnight, RIA Novosti reported, citing Russian officials. That claim, like all wartime claims, is unverified. At sea, NATO allies "have or will send additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems, explosive exploitation teams, intelligence personnel, drones, and more to the Black Sea," NATO spokesperson Colonel Martin O'Donnell said, the Kyiv Independent reported. Drones have struck at least seven cargo vessels this month off Romania and Bulgaria, killing two people and leaving at least 25 missing, the Associated Press reported via ITV. Zelensky blamed Russia. Bulgaria and other NATO members have not assigned responsibility.

Each side gains something from the format. Moscow keeps a direct channel to Washington. European capitals, by placing their proposals in the package Witkoff carries, avoid being left out of a bilateral settlement.