Witkoff in Oslo for talks with Zelenskyy
A major mediation effort regarding the war in Ukraine is taking place in Oslo on short notice.
The President of Ukraine and a representative for Donald Trump are participating, and are reportedly set to meet with a number of European officials.
On Monday evening, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that contacts were underway and that a meeting with American mediators could take place “in the coming days”—possibly in Norway.
He is now on his way, the Norwegian government announced on short notice. Zelenskyy is set to meet with, among others, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
“President Zelenskyy has asked Norway and Finland to arrange a meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts, at a critical time for Ukraine,” Støre stated.
Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, is also participating in the meeting and landed in Oslo shortly before 12:00. His colleague, the President’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, is reportedly ill and will participate via a remote link.
The President of Ukraine and a representative for Donald Trump are participating, and are reportedly set to meet with a number of European officials.
On Monday evening, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that contacts were underway and that a meeting with American mediators could take place “in the coming days”—possibly in Norway.
He is now on his way, the Norwegian government announced on short notice. Zelenskyy is set to meet with, among others, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
“President Zelenskyy has asked Norway and Finland to arrange a meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts, at a critical time for Ukraine,” Støre stated.
Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, is also participating in the meeting and landed in Oslo shortly before 12:00. His colleague, the President’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, is reportedly ill and will participate via a remote link.
Glitches in the defense systems
According to the news site Axios, the talks regarding the war will also involve representatives from the EU and NATO, as well as from France, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Witkoff is reportedly expected to travel to Russia next for further discussions.
Plans are in place for some form of press briefing in Oslo later this evening.
Trump has accused Ukraine—the nation under attack—of not being as cooperative as the invading party, Russia. Trump has lifted sanctions against Russia as part of an agreement concerning Russian diesel exports—at least for the time being. Ukraine is facing significant difficulties with the intelligence and technology previously used to counter Russian bombardment; during Russian attacks on Sunday night, these systems reportedly failed to provide the usual early warnings.
According to Zelenskyy, the United States is making things difficult for Ukraine as a deliberate, political decision. He also claims that the U.S. military is withholding promised deliveries of Patriot air-defense systems.
“Honestly, I think it’s time for someone else to negotiate on Ukraine’s behalf.”
The U.S. president has previously made abrupt shifts regarding peace talks, at times exerting more aggressive pressure on Ukraine than on Russia. Trump wants Ukraine to stop attacking Russia’s oil sector—the primary revenue source for the Russian war economy—at a time when U.S. involvement in conflicts in the Middle East has caused fuel prices to soar, even within the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly seeking a summit with Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump has indicated that he is open to such a meeting.
“I would do it. Not so much because of Ukraine—because, frankly, Russia has been perfectly fine in Ukraine; they haven’t really done that much.”
Plans are in place for some form of press briefing in Oslo later this evening.
Trump has accused Ukraine—the nation under attack—of not being as cooperative as the invading party, Russia. Trump has lifted sanctions against Russia as part of an agreement concerning Russian diesel exports—at least for the time being. Ukraine is facing significant difficulties with the intelligence and technology previously used to counter Russian bombardment; during Russian attacks on Sunday night, these systems reportedly failed to provide the usual early warnings.
According to Zelenskyy, the United States is making things difficult for Ukraine as a deliberate, political decision. He also claims that the U.S. military is withholding promised deliveries of Patriot air-defense systems.
“Time for someone else”
“Zelenskyy doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Donald Trump told a group of reporters at the White House, accusing the Ukrainian president of allowing the war to drag on because he “didn’t listen.”“Honestly, I think it’s time for someone else to negotiate on Ukraine’s behalf.”
The U.S. president has previously made abrupt shifts regarding peace talks, at times exerting more aggressive pressure on Ukraine than on Russia. Trump wants Ukraine to stop attacking Russia’s oil sector—the primary revenue source for the Russian war economy—at a time when U.S. involvement in conflicts in the Middle East has caused fuel prices to soar, even within the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly seeking a summit with Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump has indicated that he is open to such a meeting.
“I would do it. Not so much because of Ukraine—because, frankly, Russia has been perfectly fine in Ukraine; they haven’t really done that much.”
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