Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy to US President Donald Trump, has arrived in Norway for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which are due to take place on 20 October in Oslo. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gar Støre will also take part in the consultations. Jared Kushner will join remotely due to illness, Reuters reported.
Briefly about the main points
- The meeting in Oslo was organised at the request of the Ukrainian side.
- The Norwegian Government has confirmed the participation of Witkof and Kushner.
- The parties will discuss diplomatic ways of bringing the Russian war to an end.
- The day before, Zelenskyy spoke with Rubio about air defence and satellite communications.
- A joint press conference involving the three leaders is scheduled to take place following the consultations.
The meeting was organised at Kyiv’s request
The Norwegian Government has stated that the meeting was organised at the request of the Ukrainian side. Kyiv also asked for representatives of the US administration to be invited — Witkoff and Kushner.
Prime Minister Jonas Gar Støre welcomed their participation. He said that Norway and Finland were ready to facilitate the continuation of diplomatic contacts, and that the aim of the consultations was to restore peace talks in a constructive direction.
On the agenda: aid for Ukraine and the negotiation strategy
The main focus will be on coordinating the positions of Ukraine, the US and European partners in diplomatic efforts to bring Russia’s war against Ukraine to an end.
The talks are taking place against a backdrop of disagreements between Kyiv and Washington over military aid and the future strategy for negotiations with Russia. The Ukrainian side had previously reported difficulties in obtaining interceptor missiles for Patriot, the transmission of intelligence and operations Starshield. Volodymyr Zelenskyy He emphasised that delays in the delivery of defence equipment were undermining the ability to counter Russian missile and drone attacks. US officials denied that they were deliberately restricting their support.
Ahead of the visit, Zelenskyy held talks with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio the supply of interceptor missiles, warnings of Russian strikes, and the restoration of full-scale operations of Starlink and Starshield.
Reuters suggests that Witkoff may make a further trip to Russia
Reuters, citing sources familiar with the US administration’s plans, reported that following consultations in Norway, Witkoff may visit Russia. There, according to the agency, he may meet with Vladimir Putin to discuss ways of bringing the war to an end.
The release of an American citizen was also mentioned among the potential topics Stephen Hubbard, who is currently detained in Russia. Sources emphasised that the timetable remains provisional and is subject to change; the US side has not announced any definitive dates for a possible meeting.
Reuters had previously reported on the possible participation of representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, the European Union and NATO in the discussions. The Norwegian Government has not specifically confirmed their participation in any particular meetings.
Following the consultations, the leaders will hold a joint press conference
Following the talks, Zelenskyy, Stubb and Støre are due to hold a joint press conference. During his visit, the Ukrainian president will also meet with the King of Norway Harald V and will visit the country’s parliament — the Storting.
These discussions are taking place as part of consultations on further support for Ukraine and the search for ways to end the war. The parties have not yet announced any specific agreements.
