Trump envoy to meet Putin as US hails Zelensky talks

On Wednesday, US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Russia's president in Moscow to attempt to resolve the ongoing four-year conflict in Ukraine, according to a US statement. In a bid to ease tensions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the United States praised recent "very productive" discussions between Zelensky and the US in Oslo on Tuesday.

The talks came after a bitter feud between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump over the war in Ukraine, which intensified when Trump struck a deal with Putin for diesel supplies and demanded Zelensky's replacement. Zelensky expressed gratitude for US intelligence sharing, specifically mentioning its importance in early warning systems for Russian strikes on civilian targets and energy plants.

He also emphasized the need to maintain dialogue, highlighting new proposals provided by Ukraine during the Oslo talks. Meanwhile, Trump maintained pressure on Zelensky, urging him to make a deal with Russia amid rising strikes due to an approaching harsh winter. Relations between the US and Ukraine had previously soured following Trump's announcement of a diesel deal with Russia and waiving sanctions against Moscow.

The crisis escalated as Zelensky accused Trump of weakness and alleged the US was withholding vital intelligence and delaying interceptor missile deliveries. Trump, in turn, accused Zelensky of failing to resolve the conflict and proposed a meeting with Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China to discuss denuclearization, including the Ukraine war. Zelensky insisted that Ukraine must be represented in any negotiations concerning its future.