Two days of diplomacy in Norway’s capital and Russia’s St Petersburg have not clearly brought the war in Ukraine closer to an end.

Norway’s prime minister described Tuesday’s talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and European representatives as “good and constructive”.

A leaders’ meeting remains uncertain

In Oslo, the idea of a trilateral meeting at leaders’ level was raised. The hope was that Witkoff’s trip to Russia would pave the way for Presidents Vladimir Putin, Zelensky and Donald Trump to meet and agree an end to the fighting.

Putin has shown little interest in sharing a table with Zelensky, unless the meeting takes place in Moscow.

The Kremlin says it may be willing to resume trilateral talks next month in Abu Dhabi, but only at the technical level.

In a post on X, Witkoff said “there is still important work to do”. He added that “President Trump remains committed to seeing this war end”.

Kremlin response

Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy aide to Putin, took part in the St Petersburg talks. He said Witkoff had briefed Putin on the Oslo discussions and on what Witkoff described as “new approaches from the Europeans and Kyiv”.

Ushakov was critical of the outcome. “In terms of resolving the Ukraine crisis, there wasn’t much there that was useful,” he said.

Later, speaking to Russian state television about prospects for peace, he said: “I don’t know how close we are getting, but things are moving in that direction.”

Pressure on Moscow

Analysis suggests Putin does not currently feel under pressure to end the war. Ukraine’s air defences are under severe strain, and winter is approaching.

The US president, meanwhile, has paused some sanctions on Moscow and agreed to buy Russian diesel. He has also strongly criticised Zelensky.

Russian MP and TV anchor Evgeny Popov said: “Right now Trump is the only leader in the Western world who is doing something for peace.”

Possible summit in China

A trilateral meeting between Putin, Zelensky and Trump may not happen soon. However, a meeting between Putin, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could take place next month on the sidelines of the Apec summit in China.

Some commentators have already called it “The New Yalta”, a reference to the 1945 conference where Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt planned the political and territorial reorganisation of post-war Europe.

Popov said: “Russia, China and the United States are the only superpowers right now in the world. Of course, it will be good for the entire world if our leaders meet in China.”

After nearly five years of war, such a meeting would place Putin at the top table of global politics.