Zelenskyy to Meet with US Envoy Witkoff and European Leaders in Norway to Discuss Ending Russia-Ukraine War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to engage in discussions with United States special envoy Steve Witkoff and European leaders in Norway, with the primary objective of seeking an end to the ongoing war with Russia. The prime ministers of Norway and Finland are expected to be present at the talks in Oslo on Tuesday. Additionally, Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, is anticipated to participate remotely due to illness.

This meeting occurs amidst President Trump's continued public criticism of Zelenskyy, wherein he has accused the Ukrainian leader of lacking the desire to end the war and has suggested that alternative negotiators should represent Kyiv.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store indicated that Zelenskyy had specifically requested the participation of Witkoff and Kushner in Tuesday's discussions. Prior to the talks, Zelenskyy shared on X that he had held a "substantive conversation" with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio concerning missile interceptors, intelligence sharing, and Starlink, a satellite internet service provided by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Last week, Zelenskyy had voiced concerns about Washington allegedly withholding intelligence from Kyiv and limiting Starlink's internet speed. Ukraine's armed forces utilize SpaceX's military-grade internet network, Starshield, for various operations, including drone attacks. Zelenskyy did not confirm whether Rubio had committed to resolving the issues raised, which included the supply of crucial US-made Patriot missile interceptors to Ukraine and the restoration of intelligence sharing and Starshield services. Nevertheless, he characterized the discussion as "constructive" and stated that both parties had agreed to further communication soon.

The talks are taking place as both sides in the conflict continue to launch long-range air attacks against each other. On Tuesday, at least three individuals were killed across Ukraine due to Russian attacks. A Russian drone targeted a highway connecting Kyiv to the Black Sea port of Odesa, resulting in three fatalities and four injuries, as confirmed by Kyiv's regional prosecutor's office. Separately, over 32,000 families are currently without electricity after Russia struck three energy facilities belonging to DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, in the southern Odesa region.

In Russia, the governor of Tambov Oblast reported a fire at an oil pumping station on Tuesday following an overnight Ukrainian drone attack, stating that four drones had been intercepted. President Trump has reportedly grown increasingly frustrated with Zelenskyy in recent weeks, while simultaneously easing pressure on Russia, including the lifting of sanctions on its diesel exports. Trump's administration has expressed a strong desire to reduce energy prices, which have escalated due to the US-Israel conflict involving Iran. Zelenskyy has characterized the agreement to waive sanctions on Russian diesel as a "reward" for President Vladimir Putin, warning that such actions would only serve to embolden him.