Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Oslo on Tuesday ahead of planned talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, hosted by Norway and Finland as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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From Norway, Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to media reports.
The Oslo meeting brings together Zelenskyy, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Witkoff. Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is also expected to join the negotiations remotely.
In a statement on Tuesday, Støre confirmed that kyiv had specifically requested the participation of the two US envoys, describing the meeting as an opportunity to put diplomatic efforts to end the war on a more constructive footing.
“Diplomatic efforts have already taken place in several countries and Norway and Finland are happy to be able to continue this work,” Støre said.
“The goal is to put diplomatic efforts on a more constructive path.”
Representatives from the E4 countries (UK, France, Germany and Poland) as well as the EU and NATO are also expected to attend.
Poland’s expected presence comes after Warsaw was excluded from earlier negotiations involving Britain, France and Germany. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized his country’s exclusion, insisting that Poland must have a say in decisions regarding Ukraine’s future.
The European Commission confirmed to Euronews that it had been invited by Ukraine to participate in the Oslo discussions but did not specify who would represent Brussels.
Witkoff’s planned meeting with Putin is also expected to address the possible release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old U.S. citizen detained by Russia in 2022 and sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for allegedly fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.
Zelensky began his trip in Oslo by meeting with Norwegian King Haakon VIII on Tuesday.
In a post on X, the Ukrainian leader thanked the royal and Norwegian government and people for their support and said the two discussed the return of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia.
US-Ukrainian relations under strain
The Oslo talks come at a particularly difficult time in relations between kyiv and Washington, with the Trump administration pressuring Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, while questions mount over the delivery of urgently needed US air defense weapons.
The meeting also follows a telephone conversation Sunday between Zelensky, Witkoff and Kushner, during which they discussed possible next steps toward ending the war.
Zelensky told Bloomberg over the weekend that he offered to suspend Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities in exchange for additional U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukraine urgently needs to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.
In a separate conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday morning, the Ukrainian president raised three pressing issues: ballistic missile interceptors, early warning intelligence and restrictions affecting Starlink/Starshield satellite communications.
“First, ballistic missile interceptors, which are necessary to protect lives. Second, early warning against Russian ballistic missile attacks, which is vital. Third, the situation with Starlink/Starshield, which must be restored,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
The concerns come as Washington delays the delivery of a large batch of Patriot interceptor missiles already paid for by Ukraine’s European allies, with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth yet to approve their transfer.
Ukrainian officials fear the delay is politically motivated and aimed at putting pressure on kyiv. NATO officials, however, maintain that Allied-funded deliveries continue, while a U.S. government official disputed the allegations.
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