DOMINANT ANGLE
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.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Zelensky mentioned at Oslo NATO's Article 5 and an "Article 5 light" option in the document Witkoff was to take to Moscow (Ukrinform).
- 02
The Putin-Witkoff meeting lasted about three hours, with Kirill Dmitriev; Kushner joined via video link (Ukrinform, Ukrainska Pravda).
- 03
According to the UN, as cited by Kyiv Post, at least 328 civilians were killed and 2,105 injured in September.
ANALYSIS
Kyiv, October 21, 2026. The Ukrainian press is addressing the meeting between Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin at the Konstantin Palace near Saint Petersburg, with the security guarantees discussed the day before in Oslo. On Tuesday, October 20, Volodymyr Zelensky received the American envoy in the presence of Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. According to Ukrinform, he mentioned Article 5 of NATO and a "Article 5 light" variant, included in the document that Witkoff was to hand over to the Russians; Kyiv was hoping for a response within a day. Zelensky recalled that no issue concerning Ukraine could be discussed without it, and referred the territories to the "highest level".
On Wednesday, October 21, the conversation lasted nearly three hours, reports Ukrainska Pravda, citing Interfax. Witkoff said he hoped for the resumption of Russia-US-Ukraine talks to address technical issues, and believed that a basis existed for a ceasefire. Kirill Dmitriev participated; Jared Kushner, who was ill, joined via video link, according to Dmitri Peskov. Ukrainian media also note that Witkoff thanked Putin, on behalf of Donald Trump, for his decision on diesel, and that the latter mentioned more fertilizer deliveries to the United States.
The release of Stephen Hubbard, 74, a teacher from Michigan who has been living in Izioum since 2014, is detailed: he was sentenced to six years and ten months for allegedly joining the Ukrainian territorial defense, according to Russian investigators. His sister claims the accusation is a lie.
The point of friction is Witkoff's statement: "You are a humanist too, Mr." Kyiv Post contrasts this with UN reports, which count at least 328 civilians killed and 2,105 injured in September. Ukrainska Pravda recalls that Putin is the subject of an International Criminal Court warrant. The media also cites Axios: Kushner allegedly asked Kyiv to stop striking Russian refineries.
Zelensky states he does not expect to meet Witkoff in Oslo on his return: "We must move forward", with the next steps depending on Russian peace proposals. In Brussels, Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho is awaiting an American report on a possible move to three-way talks.
SOURCES (3)
- Kyiv PostMEDIUM
- Ukrainska Pravda ENMEDIUM
