US special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Oslo on Tuesday, in a meeting hosted by Norway and Finland as part of a renewed diplomatic push to end Russia's war in Ukraine. According to media reports, Witkoff will then travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Oslo gathering brings together Zelenskyy, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, alongside Witkoff, with Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner joining remotely. In a statement on Tuesday, Støre confirmed that Kyiv had specifically requested the participation of the two American envoys, describing the meeting as an opportunity to put diplomatic efforts on a more constructive footing.
“Diplomatic efforts have previously taken place in several countries and Norway and Finland are pleased to be able to continue this work,” Støre said. “The aim is to put diplomatic efforts on a more constructive path.”
Representatives from the E4 countries—the UK, France, Germany, and Poland—as well as the EU and NATO, are also expected to participate. Poland's presence is notable after Warsaw was left out of earlier negotiations involving Britain, France, and Germany. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had criticised his country's exclusion, insisting that Poland must have a say in decisions concerning Ukraine's future.
The European Commission confirmed to Euronews that it had been invited by Ukraine to participate in the Oslo discussions, but did not specify who would represent Brussels.
US-Ukraine relations under strain
The talks come at a particularly difficult moment in relations between Kyiv and Washington. The Trump administration is pressing Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, while questions mount over the delivery of urgently needed American air defence weapons. This follows reports that Washington is delaying Patriot missile deliveries that Ukraine's European allies have already paid for.
The Oslo meeting follows a telephone conversation on Sunday between Zelenskyy, Witkoff, and Kushner, during which they discussed possible next steps towards ending the war. Zelenskyy told Bloomberg at the weekend that he had proposed suspending Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities in exchange for additional US-made Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukraine urgently needs to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.
In a separate conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday morning, the Ukrainian president raised three pressing issues: ballistic missile interceptors, early-warning intelligence, and restrictions affecting Starlink/Starshield satellite communications. “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,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
The concerns come amid reports that Washington is delaying the delivery of a significant batch of Patriot interceptor missiles already paid for by Ukraine's European allies, with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth yet to approve their transfer. This has exacerbated the rift between Kyiv and Washington, as Ukraine faces a critical shortage of air defence capabilities.
Witkoff's planned meeting with Putin is also expected to address the possible release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American citizen detained by Russia in 2022 and sentenced to almost seven years in jail for allegedly fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.
The diplomatic manoeuvring comes as critics argue that US policy towards Ukraine has become increasingly erratic, with Trump's rhetoric often blaming Kyiv for the war's continuation. Meanwhile, European leaders are seeking to maintain a united front, with Pope Leo XIV also pressing Zelenskyy on a truce in the Oleshky area after a call with Putin.
The Oslo meeting is seen as a crucial test of whether the US and Ukraine can bridge their differences and present a coherent strategy ahead of any potential talks with Moscow. European capitals are watching closely, aware that their own security is directly tied to the outcome of the conflict.
