OSLO — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Oslo on Tuesday for a new round of Ukraine talks on the war and European security, arranged by Norway and Finland, as US special envoy Steve Witkoff was reported to be travelling to the Norwegian capital too. “President Zelensky has asked Norway and Finland to organise a meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts, at a critical moment for Ukraine,” the Norwegian government said in a statement confirming Tuesday’s sessions with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
Zelensky Oslo Ukraine talks: what is confirmed for Tuesday
The Norwegian government confirmed Zelensky’s arrival for Tuesday, saying the meetings would cover the war in Ukraine and the wider security picture in Europe. According to the Norwegian statement, Zelensky himself asked Oslo and Helsinki to arrange the session. Stubb is attending alongside Støre. The American and wider European presence at the table rests on media reporting citing US officials, rather than on the official Norwegian and Finnish announcements.
Anadolu Agency, citing local media reports quoting a US official, reported that the Oslo discussions were expected to bring together Støre, Zelensky, representatives of the E4 group — Britain, France, Germany and Poland — as well as the European Union and NATO. The stated objective, according to the official, is “to coordinate a comprehensive proposal that could provide the basis for renewed negotiations with Russia.”
Witkoff’s reported Oslo trip — then on to Russia
News outlet Axios reported that White House envoy Steve Witkoff was travelling to Oslo on Tuesday to meet Zelensky and European leaders, before heading to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin. Anadolu separately reported that Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, spoke with Zelensky on Sunday to review progress and discuss next steps. Kushner is expected to join the Oslo discussions virtually because he has the flu and is avoiding in-person meetings, the reports said.
Following Oslo, Witkoff is planning to travel to Russia, where he hopes to present ideas developed in consultation with Ukraine and European partners to Putin, according to the US official cited in the reports. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia “highly values US mediation efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.” Peskov separately confirmed that the idea of a Trump-Putin-Xi meeting had “indeed been mentioned,” according to the AFP wire.
Trump says it may be “time for somebody else to negotiate”
The talks come against the sharpest public rift yet between Trump and Zelensky. On Monday, Trump said: “Zelensky doesn’t know what he’s talking about. To be honest, I think it’s time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.” In a longer version of the remarks, he added: “I think it’s time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine because what’s happened? A tremendous number of people are dead. They’re losing their male population. Maybe it’s time for Zelenskyy to get somebody else to negotiate.”
Trump also said he was ready to meet Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China next month to discuss denuclearisation, adding that the talks could also cover the Ukraine war — a prospect that has fuelled fears in Kyiv of being sidelined. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said such a meeting would “only encourage Putin to continue this war.”
The missile row driving the tension
On Monday, Zelensky told US senators that “the Pentagon is delaying the delivery of missiles” already paid for by European countries, and that the shipment was waiting for US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s signature. He said several European countries were ready to transfer Patriot interceptor missiles from their own stockpiles but were still awaiting US approval. “The missiles are ready, and they could already be in Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “But unfortunately, there is still no approval.”
The United States has denied making any changes to intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Trump has also denied ordering a reduction in speeds on the US government-owned Starshield satellite network, after SpaceX chief Elon Musk said any such order could only have come from the White House. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Uzbekistan on Monday, also denied that intelligence sharing had been withdrawn and backed Trump’s call for Zelensky to focus on ending the conflict.
Kyiv says it had no early warning of powerful Russian strikes that have again hit Ukrainian energy facilities — attacks that knocked out power to more than 500,000 people and forced emergency repairs to the grid, as GlobalDeskNews reported earlier. A strike near the northeastern city of Kharkiv killed six people, including three children, the authorities said.
Pope Leo’s Monday calls
Zelensky also spoke to Pope Leo XIV by telephone on Monday, according to the Vatican, days after the pontiff held a similar call with Putin. The Vatican said the pope had urged both sides to allow aid into the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky and to let civilians leave.
Why it matters
The Oslo round arrives as US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled in recent months, according to the AFP wire — with Russia refusing to give up its claim to Ukrainian territory and Ukraine steadfastly refusing attempts to force it to do so. With Washington openly questioning Zelensky’s role at the table and floating a separate track with Moscow and Beijing, Tuesday’s meetings will show whether the US, Ukraine and Europe can still agree on a single proposal — or whether the mediation is splitting into competing channels.
What happens next
If the Oslo meetings produce the “comprehensive proposal” US officials describe, Witkoff is expected to carry it to Moscow and present it to Putin in the coming days — the next real test of whether the diplomacy has moved beyond statements. Kyiv, meanwhile, will be watching whether the delayed interceptor missiles start moving, and whether the intelligence-sharing row cools. With Russian strikes continuing to hit Ukraine’s grid, the pressure on every party in Oslo is only rising.
Key Takeaways
- Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Oslo on Tuesday for Ukraine war talks arranged by Norway and Finland, meeting Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
- Axios reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff is travelling to Oslo on Tuesday, and plans to go on to Russia to meet Vladimir Putin with a proposal for renewed negotiations.
- The Oslo table is expected to include the E4 — Britain, France, Germany and Poland — plus the EU and NATO, per reports citing a US official; Jared Kushner joins virtually with the flu.
- Trump said it may be “time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine” and floated meeting Putin and Xi in China next month.
- Zelensky accused the Pentagon of delaying European-paid interceptor missiles; Washington denies changing intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Zelensky in Oslo on Tuesday?
Zelensky asked Norway and Finland to arrange the meeting “at a critical moment for Ukraine,” according to the Norwegian government. He is holding talks on the war and European security with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, aiming to coordinate a proposal for renewed negotiations with Russia.
Is Steve Witkoff meeting Zelensky in Oslo?
That is what Axios reported, citing a US official: Witkoff is travelling to Oslo on Tuesday to meet Zelensky and European leaders. Neither Norway nor Finland officially confirmed any US delegation, so his attendance rests on media reporting for now. After Oslo, Witkoff reportedly plans to travel to Russia to meet Vladimir Putin.
Who else is expected at the Oslo talks?
According to reports citing a US official, the discussions should include the E4 group — Britain, France, Germany and Poland — plus representatives of the European Union and NATO. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, is expected to take part virtually because he has the flu.
What did Trump say about Zelensky negotiating?
On Monday Trump said: “To be honest, I think it’s time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine,” adding that Ukraine is “losing their male population.” He also said he was ready to meet Putin and Xi Jinping in China next month to discuss denuclearisation, with the Ukraine war possibly on the agenda.
What is the missile delivery row about?
Zelensky told US senators on Monday that “the Pentagon is delaying the delivery of missiles” already paid for by European countries, awaiting Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s signature. He said European states were ready to send Patriot interceptors from their own stocks but lacked US approval. Washington denies changing intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
What happens after the Oslo meetings?
US officials say the aim is a comprehensive proposal for renewed negotiations with Russia. Witkoff is then expected to fly to Moscow to present it to Putin — the next test of the diplomacy. Kyiv will also be watching for movement on the delayed interceptor missiles and for any easing of the intelligence-sharing dispute.
Sources
- South China Morning Post — “Zelensky accuses US of delaying missiles as Trump calls for new Ukraine negotiator” (20 October 2026)
- Anadolu Agency — “Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff heading to Norway for Ukraine talks” (20 October 2026)
- Channel News Asia (AFP) — “Ukraine claims US missile holdup ahead of reported talks” (20 October 2026)
Related on GlobalDeskNews: Russia Strikes Ukraine Power Grid, 500,000 Left Without Power · Zelensky Warns Trump: Siding With Russia a ‘Historic Mistake’ · Ukrainian Drone Attack on St. Petersburg · Why Trump Waived Russia Sanctions
By GlobalDeskNews Staff