Zelensky, Witkoff begin talks in Oslo

President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo on October 20 as diplomatic relations between the United States and Ukraine grow increasingly strained. The deteriorating ties have been fueled by Ukraine's accusations that the U.S. is leveraging military aid and access to technology to compel it to cease strikes on Russian oil refineries.

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finland's President Alexander Stubb will also participate in the talks, alongside Witkoff. Witkoff is attending the meeting physically, while Jared Kushner, another U.S. envoy, was scheduled to join remotely due to an alleged health issue, according to a Reuters source.

Zelensky has requested Norway and Finland to organize this meeting during this critical period for Ukraine. He is scheduled to engage in separate bilateral discussions with Witkoff, as well as a trilateral meeting with Store and Stubb, and joint talks with all three officials. Additional European officials, including representatives from the U.K., Germany, France, and Poland, are anticipated to join the dialogue. The European Union will be represented by Bjoern Seibert, a senior official in the European Commission.

Zelensky expressed his commitment to maintaining all contacts that can facilitate peace and shared a statement on social media regarding the upcoming talks. Meanwhile, the deteriorating U.S.-Russia diesel deal has further exacerbated the already fragile U.S.-Ukraine relations. Trump had previously accused Zelensky of not wanting to end the war and refused to condemn Russia's escalating attacks on Ukraine, including strikes on the country's vulnerable energy infrastructure.

Zelensky warned that aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin would be a "historic mistake," citing concerns that Washington may be withholding Patriot air defense missiles and crucial intelligence about Russian missile attacks. Witkoff is also expected to meet with Putin in Moscow to discuss the potential release of Stephen Hubbard, an American citizen detained by Russian forces in 2022.