Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed that a meeting between Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was planned days in advance and will occur at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg.

Witkoff is reportedly expected to advocate for the release of Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen who was allegedly serving with Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv Oblast when detained by Russian forces in 2022.