Travel & Experiences · 9 Proficient · October 21, 2026

US Envoy Meets Putin as Ukraine Reports Intelligence Sharing Restored

Photo: Wikimedia Commons via Wikimedia Commons

Vocabulary

special envoy ˈspɛʃəl ˈɛnvɔɪ noun phrase

a government official sent on a specific diplomatic mission to represent their country

Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, traveled to St Petersburg to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

constructive kənˈstrʌktɪv adjective

helpful and aimed at improving or making progress toward solving a problem

A US official characterized the Oslo discussions as constructive and reported strong alignment among the delegations.

alignment əˈlaɪnmənt noun

agreement or cooperation between different groups or countries working toward the same goal

The officials reported strong alignment at the working level among the American, Ukrainian, and European delegations.

Article

Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, traveled to St Petersburg on Wednesday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and present peace proposals for ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This meeting followed Witkoff's visit to Oslo, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. A US official characterized the Oslo discussions as "constructive" and reported "strong alignment at the working level" among the American, Ukrainian, and European delegations regarding next steps toward resolution.

Kerr University™ subscribers

Get full access to every level and category, plus one-on-one guidance in class

This lesson continues with 3 more vocabulary words, the full article, natural-voice audio and discussion questions. Subscribers get every Daily News lesson, at every level.

See plans

New here? Book a free 30-minute class or try a free sample story.

Open the full interactive lesson with tap-to-hear on every word →

Ready to speak English with real confidence?

Work 1-on-1 with Digby R. Kerr.

Claim Your Free 30-Min Class