US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is planning to visit Norway this week for talks on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, Reuters reports, citing informed sources. Following consultations in Oslo, he also plans to travel to Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin; the schedule, according to the agency, is provisional and subject to change.
Briefly about the main points
- Vitkoff plans to visit Norway for consultations on Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy arrived in Norway on 20 October, the Norwegian government has announced.
- Reuters and Axios described the broader range of participants at the meetings as expected.
- After Oslo, Witkoff is planning a trip to Russia to meet Putin.
What format are the meetings in Oslo being organised in?
The Office of the Prime Minister of Norway has confirmed the arrival Vladimir Zelensky to the country on 20 October. According to a government statement, he is due to meet the Prime Minister Jonas Garr Stere and the President of Finland Alexander Stubb.
The Norwegian side noted that Zelensky asked Norway and Finland to organise a meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts. According to Reuters, representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, the EU and NATO were expected to be involved in the wider consultations.
Kushner was due to take part online
Reuters and Axios reported that Jared Kushner, the US President’s son-in-law Donald Trump, due to illness, he was unable to travel to Oslo in person and was able to take part in the discussions online. At that time, there was no specific confirmation of his actual participation in the consultations.
On 18 October, the Office of the President of Ukraine reported on a telephone conversation between Zelenskyy and Witkoff and Kushner. At the time, the parties stated that they were preparing the next diplomatic steps, without revealing the content of any potential proposals.
After Oslo, Witkoff may travel to Russia
After Norway, Witkoff plans to visit Russia and meet with Putin. The date and venue of the possible meeting were not disclosed publicly.
Among the topics of conversation, sources mentioned the war in Ukraine and efforts to secure the release of a US citizen Stephen Hubbard. He has been in custody in Russia since 2022, and in October 2024 a Russian court handed down a sentence against him in a closed-door hearing. At the time of reporting, no announcement had been made regarding a meeting between Witkoff and Putin or any agreements reached.
