Trump envoys head to Oslo for Ukraine talks before Putin meeting
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected in Norway this week to meet Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies, before Witkoff travels to Russia to meet Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported.
Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in Norway this week for talks aimed at ending the war, Reuters reported on 19 October. Witkoff is then expected to fly on to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin.
Norway's prime minister, Jonas Gahr Store, is set to host the Oslo meeting, which Reuters said would also draw in representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Poland, the European Union and NATO, citing sources familiar with the arrangements. Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, will join only by video link because he is unwell, one of the sources added.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb confirmed Zelensky's presence in Norway, Der Spiegel reported. Norway's government said Zelensky had asked Norway and Finland to organise the meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts "at a critical moment for Ukraine," Store said in a statement cited by Defence24.
Plans for both legs of the trip could still shift, the Kyiv Independent reported. Witkoff's Moscow meeting is also expected to touch on freeing Stephen Hubbard, an American held by Russia since 2022 who had reportedly been serving in a Ukrainian territorial defence unit in Izium, Kharkiv .
The Norway trip follows a phone call on 18 October between Zelensky, Witkoff and Kushner about possible next steps toward a peace deal, the Kyiv Independent reported. Separately, Zelensky told Bloomberg he had offered to halt Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure in return for more American-made interceptor missiles to counter Russian attacks.
Washington has been pushing Kyiv to halt the refinery strikes, the Kyiv Independent reported. Ukrainian officials told the outlet that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has held back a sizeable shipment of Patriot interceptors that Kyiv's allies have already paid for, which some in Ukraine see as a form of political leverage by Washington. NATO officials said other deliveries under the purchase scheme, including equipment, were still going ahead, while an American official rejected the Ukrainian claim.
The meeting comes after US-Ukraine talks in Miami on 9 October broke down early, Defence24 reported. Trump accused Zelensky afterwards of being reluctant to end the war, while Zelensky accused Washington of pressuring Kyiv to accept defeat.
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What we know
- Steve Witkoff is expected in Norway this week for peace talks with Zelensky and European officials, before travelling to Russia to meet Putin, Reuters reported.
- The Oslo talks are expected to include Norway's prime minister, representatives of the UK, France, Germany and Poland, and officials from the EU and NATO.
- Jared Kushner is expected to join the talks remotely because of illness.
- The talks follow an 18 October call between Zelensky, Witkoff and Kushner, and come after US-Ukraine talks in Miami on 9 October broke down early.
- Zelensky told Bloomberg he proposed pausing Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure in exchange for more Patriot interceptor missiles.
Not yet confirmed
- The exact schedule for the Oslo and Moscow meetings remains tentative and could change, the Kyiv Independent reported.
- Whether the US is withholding approval of a Patriot missile transfer as political pressure is disputed; a US government official denied Ukraine's allegation.
Why it matters for Europe
The Oslo meeting brings together Ukraine's biggest European backers, Britain, France, Germany and Poland, alongside the EU and NATO, giving them a direct part in talks that could shape any peace deal. The previous round of US-Ukraine talks, held in Miami on 9 October, ended early and was followed by public recriminations between Trump and Zelensky, leaving the outcome of the new talks uncertain.
Sources
Reported by 7 reports from 7 independent outlets in 7 countries.
- Bergens Tidende: Her går det galt: – Senker Brann i Oslo
- Omni: Uppgift: Trumps förhandlare till Oslo för fredssamtal
- The Kyiv Independent: Witkoff plans Ukraine peace talks in Norway, Putin meeting in Russia
- Der Spiegel: Ukraine-Krieg: Steve Witkoff und Jared Kushner sprechen in Norwegen mit Wolodymyr Selenskyj
- Defence24: Spotkanie w Oslo: Zełenski i wysłannicy Trumpa o pokoju
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- Who is travelling to Norway for the talks?
- Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, joining remotely, are expected to meet Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials, Reuters reported.
- Will Witkoff also meet Putin?
- Yes, Witkoff is expected to travel on to Russia after the Oslo talks to meet President Vladimir Putin, according to Reuters.
- What did Zelensky propose to secure more air defence?
- Zelensky told Bloomberg he offered to pause Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure in exchange for more Patriot interceptor missiles.
This article was written with AI assistance from 8 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.