Russia: Steve Witkoff meets Vladimir Putin, Moscow frees an American and says it is ready to resume talks in November

South Africa

2 SOURCES

Coverage by dispatches and mediation · 2 of 20 countries

Pretoria sees Witkoff's visit as a rescue operation for the plummeting Washington-Kiev relationship, with Europeans acting as mediators.

Germany

incl. 2 state outlets

3 SOURCES

European neighborhood of Kiev · 9 of 20 countries

Berlin sees the Witkoff mission as an American diplomatic coup where Kiev and Europe are left out, and where the release of Hubbard is less significant than the uncertainty surrounding November.

Australia

2 SOURCES

Narrative centered on Washington and liberation · 7 of 20 countries

Canberra is gauging Steve Witkoff's visit to Saint Petersburg by its concrete outcome: one American prisoner released, but no breakthrough in sight in the negotiations on Ukraine.

Brazil

2 SOURCES

Narrative centered on Washington and liberation · 7 of 20 countries

Brasilia sees Hubbard's release as a sign of easing tensions between Trump and Putin, while also recalling that the territories occupied by Russia still block an agreement.

Estonia

2 SOURCES

European neighborhood of Kiev · 9 of 20 countries

Tallinn is scrutinizing Steve Witkoff's tour as a fragile diplomatic relaunch, where the praise addressed to Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's demand for security guarantees carry more weight than the promise of talks in November.

United States

7 SOURCES

Narrative centered on Washington and liberation · 7 of 20 countries

The United States views the episode through the lens of domestic politics: the release of Stephen Hubbard becomes a presidential victory, while the word "humanitarian" addressed to Putin by Steve Witkoff fuels controversy.

France

4 SOURCES

European neighborhood of Kiev · 9 of 20 countries

Paris is questioning the diplomatic significance of Steve Witkoff's visit to Saint Petersburg, which it views in the context of a week of high tension between Washington and Kiev.

Hungary

3 SOURCES

European neighborhood of Kiev · 9 of 20 countries

Budapest is more taken by the flattery than the diplomatic relaunch: the Hungarian press is focusing on the "You're a humanitarian" remark made by Steve Witkoff to Vladimir Putin.

India

3 SOURCES

Narrative centered on Washington and liberation · 7 of 20 countries

New Delhi sees the Witkoff mission as a cautious diplomatic relaunch: three-way talks to reopen, the release of an American, but no breakthrough announced.

Italy

2 SOURCES

European neighborhood of Kiev · 9 of 20 countries

Rome views Witkoff's mission to Saint-Petersburg as an attempt to revive the diplomatic route after days of chaos between Westerners, while highlighting the vagueness of American proposals.

Malaysia

2 SOURCES

Narrative centered on Washington and liberation · 7 of 20 countries

Kuala Lumpur is primarily focused on the diplomatic mechanism: a release without an exchange, suspended sanctions, and a US emissary tasked with relaying Oslo's ideas to Saint Petersburg.

Norway

3 SOURCES

European neighborhood of Kiev · 9 of 20 countries

Oslo is positioning itself as host and relay for the negotiation: the Norwegian press reports Witkoff's mission to Saint-Petersburg as the direct follow-up to the talks held in the capital.

Pakistan

3 SOURCES

Narrative centered on Washington and liberation · 7 of 20 countries

Islamabad views Steve Witkoff's tour as a diplomatic maneuver by Washington: the release of an American and the idea of a Putin-Trump summit in China are overshadowing a Ukraine pressed to conclude.

Poland

2 SOURCES

European neighborhood of Kiev · 9 of 20 countries

Warsaw weighs the implications of Witkoff's mission in terms of its risks for Europe: the release of an American is a gesture by Moscow, but the idea of a Putin-Trump-Xi summit is unsettling.

Qatar

2 SOURCES

Coverage by dispatches and mediation · 2 of 20 countries

Doha is gauging the diplomatic mechanics of the day: an updated American proposal being put to Putin, following up on Oslo, to pave the way for direct three-way talks.

Romania

2 SOURCES

European neighborhood of Kiev · 9 of 20 countries

Bucharest is reporting, through news agency dispatches, Witkoff's mission to Saint Petersburg as an uncertain diplomatic step, between tense Western allies and Moscow.

United Kingdom

2 SOURCES

Narrative centered on Washington and liberation · 7 of 20 countries

London is deciphering the Saint Petersburg meeting through the release of Stephen Hubbard and the concern of Kiev's allies in the face of a Donald Trump who appears to be turning away from Ukraine to move closer to Moscow.

Russia

incl. 1 state outlet

5 SOURCES

Parties to the conflict · 2 of 20 countries

Moscow presents the Saint Petersburg meeting as a resumption of dialogue on its terms: the release of Hubbard as a gesture of goodwill, three-way negotiations in November, and economic projects with Washington.

Sweden

5 SOURCES

European neighborhood of Kiev · 9 of 20 countries

Stockholm views Witkoff's mission with skepticism: expectations are deemed low in Europe, and Carl Bildt sees it as yet another diversionary tactic by Putin.

Ukraine

incl. 1 state outlet

3 SOURCES

Parties to the conflict · 2 of 20 countries

Kyiv is weighing Witkoff's visit to Putin against the security guarantees agreed upon the day before in Oslo, and is outraged by the compliment paid to the Kremlin leader.