ST PETERSBURG, Russia, Oct 21 (Reuters) - 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 World War Two.

Ukrainian strikes set an oil export terminal and a depot ablaze in St. Petersburg on Sunday as Kyiv launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia in one of its largest aerial attacks of the war.

It's still not clear exactly who authorized the reduction to Ukraine's Starshield access from last week.

The president blamed Ukraine’s leader on lives lost in Russia’s invasion and suggested someone else negotiate on behalf of the country.

Ukraine's leader calls on Trump to allow delivery of interceptor missiles already purchased by European allies if the U.S. "cannot rein Putin in."

Lawmakers are struggling to find a way to convince the president to stop cozying up to Russia.

WASHINGTON, ⁠Oct ⁠19 - ⁠The Trump ​administration ‌has ‌not ⁠approved the ⁠transfer of ​interceptor ​missiles ⁠to ⁠Ukraine, ⁠the Washington Post ​reported ​on ⁠Monday. (Reporting ⁠by Christian Martinez ⁠and Jasper Ward in ⁠Washington; Editing by ​Caitlin ​Webber)

Trump's push to end the war that has raged since 2022 comes as midterm elections could give Democrats control of Congress, expanding their oversight powers.