President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Norway for talks with Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, and European leaders. The parties are discussing the preparation of joint proposals on ending the Russian-Ukrainian war, which they subsequently plan to present to Russia. According to RBC-Ukraine, the Ukrainian delegation comprises four officials.
Briefly about the main points
- Zelenskyy is holding consultations in Norway with the US and European partners.
- Budanov, Umerov, Kyslytsia and Palisa have joined the Ukrainian team.
- Vitkoff has come in person; Kushner will join the discussion online.
- The parties are drawing up comprehensive proposals, but there is no final document as yet.
- Following the consultations, Witkoff may travel to Russia to meet with Putin.
The Ukrainian delegation included senior officials from the President’s Office and the intelligence services
According to a well-informed source at RBC-Ukraine, along with Zelensky The Head of the President’s Office is taking part in the negotiations Kirill Budanov, Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Rustem Umerov, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Sergey Kislitsa and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa.
Meetings with representatives of the administration Trump and European partners have scheduled it for the afternoon. The President’s Office did not publish the full list of delegation members separately; RBC-Ukraine provided the list of participants, citing its own source.
American and European participants at the meeting
The Norwegian Government has confirmed that the talks were organised at the initiative of the Ukrainian side. Zelenskyy asked for two representatives of the US administration to be invited to the discussions — Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
According to the Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Witkof’s plane landed at Oslo Airport shortly before midday. Kushner, who is Donald Trump’s son-in-law, will take part remotely: US media have reported that he has come down with the flu.
The President of Finland is also taking part in the consultations Alexander Stubb and the Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gar Støre. Reuters reported that representatives from the UK, France, Germany, Poland, the European Union and NATO may join them. Støre stated that the aim is to steer diplomatic efforts back onto a constructive path.
What do the joint peace initiatives entail?
According to Axios, citing a US official, the US, Ukraine and their European allies are working on a comprehensive peace proposal to be presented to Russia. Over the past week, the parties have been coordinating their approaches to future agreements.
One area of work covers security guarantees, the protection of Ukraine’s sovereignty, European integration and post-war economic recovery. Another concerns the conditions for a lasting peace, possible future negotiations with Russia and European security once hostilities have ceased.
There is no final document as yet. An American official told Axios that consultations need to continue in order to produce a comprehensive peace proposal.
Vitkoff may pass on the ideas he has developed to the Russian side
Axios and Reuters have reported that, following consultations in Norway, Witkoff plans to travel to Russia. He is expected to attempt to meet with Vladimir Putin and to present the ideas developed in collaboration with Ukraine and European partners.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow is hoping for such a meeting in the near future. According to him, it could provide an opportunity to discuss the outcome of the US side’s contacts with Kyiv and European capitals. No specific date has been officially confirmed.
The talks are taking place against a backdrop of disagreements between Ukraine and the US over the supply of interceptor missiles Patriot, the sharing of intelligence and satellite communications for the Ukrainian armed forces. Zelenskyy had previously spoken of delays in military aid, whilst the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that Washington was deliberately limiting its support.
A joint press conference is scheduled to take place following the talks
According to the Norwegian Government’s programme, once the negotiations have concluded, Zelenskyy, Stubb і Støre They will hold a joint press conference. The President of Ukraine is also due to meet the King of Norway Harald V and visit the country’s parliament — the Storting.
No peace agreement or agreed final plan has yet been announced following the consultations. The next diplomatic step could be to discuss the proposals that have been drawn up with the Russian side.
