Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted US special envoy Steve Witkoff in a grand imperial palace on Wednesday to review new ideas on ending the war in Ukraine amid Washington’s latest push to stop Europe’s bloodiest conflict since second world war. The talks in St Petersburg, the ninth time that Witkoff has met Putin in person, began with a goodwill gesture from Russia – the release of a retired US teacher held in Russia. The encounter comes amid concerns in Kyiv and among its allies that the...