- The Oslo talks are expected to include Zelensky, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, representatives from the E4 countries (UK, France, Germany and Poland) and officials from the EU and NATO.
Driving the news: The U.S. official said that after Oslo, Witkoff also plans to visit Russia, where he hopes to meet with President Vladimir Putin and present ideas developed in close consultation with Ukraine and European partners.
- Trump adviser Jared Kushner has the flu and will not attend the Oslo meeting in person, but will attend virtually, the US official said.
- The meetings planned in Oslo build on discussions held at Witkoff’s Shell Bay club in the Miami area, where Zelensky pledged to review and advance a series of proposals aimed at paving the way for a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement, the US official added.
Zoom: The U.S. official said U.S., Ukrainian and European representatives worked together last week to develop the proposals.
- “Steve and Jared also spoke with President Zelensky on Sunday to review progress and discuss next steps,” the US official said.
- The trip is also expected to include efforts to secure the release of Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher who the United States says was unjustly detained in Russia.
What’s next: The US official said the discussions are focused on two parallel tracks:
- Securing Ukraine’s Future: Establishing a sovereign, secure and prosperous future for Ukraine, including credible security guarantees, European integration and a comprehensive post-war economic framework that meets Ukraine’s financial needs and creates opportunities for long-term growth and investment.
- Create conditions for lasting peace: develop a comprehensive proposal to Russia that addresses the issues necessary to end the war, establish a new sustainable security architecture between Russia and Europe, and explore opportunities for post-war economic cooperation.
- “President Trump has led an intensive process to develop a comprehensive peace proposal with Ukraine and Europe, and the next step is to test whether this work can form the basis for serious negotiations with Russia,” the US official said.
- “These discussions remain fluid and substantial work remains to be done. President Trump’s goal is clear: to end the killings, end the war, and establish the conditions for a lasting peace that benefits Ukraine, Russia, Europe, and the United States.”
Gn headline
