US envoys to join Zelensky at talks in Oslo, Norway says

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will take part in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo on Tuesday, the Norwegian government said. 

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre

EPA/OLE BERG-RUSTEN

Witkoff and Zelensky will attend in person, while Kushner will join remotely due to illness. 

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Ukraine had asked for the US envoys to join the talks and welcomed the arrangement.

He said the aim was to steer diplomatic efforts in a more constructive direction.

Støre said Zelensky had also asked Norway and Finland to organise the meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts at a critical moment for Ukraine. 

Støre will host the meeting, which will also be attended by Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

A joint news conference is planned after the talks. 

Zelensky said on Tuesday that he had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Topics included interceptors for ballistic missiles, early warning of Russian attacks and "the situation with Starlink/Starshield, which needs to be restored," he wrote in an X post.

⚡️ Issues with Starlink/Starshield and warnings about Russian ballistic missile attacks remain unresolved — Zelensky discussed them with Rubio The Ukrainian president reported a conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The main topics included supplies of interceptor missiles, early warnings of Russian ballistic missile strikes, and restoring full access for Ukraine's Armed Forces to Starlink/Starshield satellite services. According to Zelensky, Starlink/Starshield services need to be restored. The issue of timely warnings about Russian missile launches also remains critical. “We agreed to get in touch again soon for an update,” the Ukrainian president said. Meanwhile, Rubio categorically denied the previous day that the US had suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine. According to him, there had been no pause, although Zelensky had earlier stated that the exchange of intelligence had been temporarily halted.

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 20, 2026

Kyiv says Washington has recently failed to provide early warning of Russian missile launches, restricted the speed of Starlink and Starshield satellite communications for the Ukrainian military, and failed to deliver air defences paid for by European allies.

Zelensky said he and Rubio had agreed to "get in touch again soon for an update." 

I spoke with Marco Rubio @SecRubio, and it was a substantive conversation – focused on the issues that matter. I am grateful for his readiness to help and his clear position. First, ballistic missile interceptors, which are needed to protect lives. Second, early warning of Russian ballistic missile attacks, which is vital. Third, the situation with Starlink/Starshield, which needs to be restored. Of course, all of this comes against the backdrop of our diplomatic efforts to end this horrific war and the constant killing of people. We agreed to get in touch again soon for an update. Thank you, Marco, for the constructive discussion! Thank you to everyone in America who supports fair approaches!

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 20, 2026

Rubio told journalists ‌on Tuesday ​that it could be accurate that a ​batch of interceptors purchased for ⁠Ukraine under NATO's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme ​had not been delivered, the Reuters news agency reported.

He said, however, that "there ‌has not been ‌some deliberate political ⁠directive to go out and harm Ukraine."

Witkoff is due to travel from Oslo to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin. The two are expected to discuss issues including the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard, who was imprisoned in Russia in 2022. 

Ukrainian-US talks held in Miami on October 9 ended prematurely. The meeting was followed by sharper criticism between Washington and Kyiv.

US President Donald Trump accused Zelensky of being unwilling to end the war, while Zelensky said Washington was pressuring Kyiv to surrender.

🎪 What a circus! Trump intends to pressure Zelensky into accepting a peace deal largely on Russia’s terms According to The New York Times, the White House is stepping up pressure on Kyiv to agree to territorial concessions. Ukraine is being offered economic benefits in exchange for giving up its claims to Russian-occupied territories. However, the NYT does not specify whether this would mean legally recognizing Russian control over the territories or merely abandoning efforts to reclaim them. Trump’s team believes it is now up to Zelensky to prove that he is willing to compromise with Moscow, even if that means giving up sovereign Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, Axios reports that the US, Ukraine, and Europe are jointly developing peace proposals along two separate tracks: • For Ukraine: Security guarantees, European integration, and funding for postwar reconstruction. • For Russia: Terms for ending the war, a new European security architecture, and opportunities for economic cooperation after the war.

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 20, 2026

(sp/gs) 

Source: PAP