Zelensky meets Witkoff in Oslo
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The gist
Ukrainian President Zelensky met US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo alongside Norway and Finland's leaders.
The talks aim to repair strained Kyiv-Washington ties before Witkoff flies to see Putin.
Background
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Ukraine's president, and Steve Witkoff is the U.S. special envoy who has been carrying Washington's diplomacy on the war Russia launched against Ukraine in 2022. The Oslo meeting, hosted by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre with Finnish President Alexander Stubb also present, came as tensions between Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump mounted and as Washington recently eased some pressure on Russia. Støre said Ukraine itself asked that Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and adviser, join the Oslo talks, which built on earlier discussions at Witkoff's Miami-area Shell Bay club.
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 2026Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner spoke with Zelenskyy to review progress and discuss next steps, per a U.S. official.
- Oct 19, 2026Trump told reporters outside the White House that Zelenskyy "doesn't know what he's talking about" and said it is time for somebody else to negotiate on Ukraine's behalf.
- Oct 19, 2026Zelenskyy said Ukraine had received no explanation from the American side for Starlink/Starshield restrictions or missile-delivery issues.
- Oct 20, 2026Zelenskyy arrived in Oslo and met Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff; Kushner joined virtually.
- Oct 20, 2026Zelenskyy said he held a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that Ukraine is again receiving early warnings from partners ahead of Russian strikes.
- Oct 20, 2026Russia struck three cargo vessels in the port of Reni and two en route to Odesa, and hit energy facilities across Ukraine; overnight strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people.
- Oct 21, 2026Witkoff arrived in St. Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, two sources with the visit told Reuters.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Norwegian PM Støre called the meeting "good and constructive" and said the aim is to put diplomatic efforts on a more constructive path, with substantive work done by U.S. and European teams together with Ukraine.
- Support
- Finnish President Stubb said "today was a good day for peace" and that Witkoff intends to fly to St. Petersburg to discuss the ideas from Oslo with Russian leaders.
- Caution
- Trump said Zelenskyy "doesn't know what he's talking about," accused him of obstructing peace efforts and suggested Kyiv find someone else to negotiate.
- Party
- Zelenskyy said Ukraine still has no explanation for Starlink and Starshield restrictions, while welcoming that early warnings of Russian missile attacks now work again.
- Official
- Secretary of State Rubio called "scandalous" the suggestion that Ukrainians are dying because the U.S. pulled support, and denied Washington is responsible for Starlink slowdowns.
Still unverified
Trump said he would meet Putin and Xi Jinping to figure out how to end the Ukraine war, which reportedly could exclude Zelenskyy; media reports say such a Trump-Putin-Xi meeting could take place. Zelenskyy will reportedly offer a ceasefire based on current military positions, a mutual end to attacks on energy infrastructure, a demand for a 30-to-50-year bilateral security pact with the U.S. and Europe, and acceptance of a demilitarized zone.