US Envoy Witkoff to Meet Putin in Russia Following Constructive Peace Talks With Zelensky in Oslo

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff arrives in Russia on Wednesday to present an updated peace proposal to Vladimir Putin following high-level diplomatic talks in Oslo, Norway, according to an Axios report. The diplomatic push comes as President Donald Trump pressures Kyiv to settle the ongoing war and negotiate an end to the conflict.

Ukraine Proposes Framework for Security and Economic Plans

The diplomatic discussions in Norway involved Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alongside the leaders of Norway and Finland, as well as representatives from France, the UK, Germany, Poland, the European Union, and NATO. According to a U.S. official cited by Axios, the parties made meaningful progress and established strong alignment at the working level on next steps after Ukraine brought forward new ideas and proposals that were discussed in detail.

The talks focused on developing a unified framework agreement addressing security guarantees for Ukraine, a post-war economic plan, and a broader European security architecture. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described the Oslo meeting as good and constructive, while Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that the peace process is back on track, according to Reuters. NBC News reported that U.S. officials characterized the meetings as very productive.

Zelensky Seeks Trilateral Meeting with Putin and Trump

Zelensky stated on Tuesday that the next logical step should be a trilateral meeting between himself, Putin, and Trump, though Reuters noted that Russia has so far rejected this format. The U.S. official told Axios that Washington hopes the new proposal will create a pathway toward direct trilateral and broader multilateral negotiations.

Behind the scenes, Jared Kushner joined the meeting virtually and pressed Trump’s demand that Ukraine halt strikes on Russian oil refineries. A person with knowledge of the talks told Axios that Kushner was very direct. Following the session, Zelensky stated that he is prepared to cease strikes on Russian oil refineries if Moscow takes reciprocal steps.

Kyiv and Washington Discuss Ballistic Missile Interceptors

While diplomatic tracks advance, friction persists regarding military supplies and diplomatic posture. Zelensky stated Tuesday that he held a substantive conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio focusing on ballistic missile interceptors, early warnings of ballistic attacks, and Starshield restrictions, according to NBC News. Zelensky reported that Kyiv is once again receiving early warnings from its partners following recent Russian missile attacks that occurred without sufficient notice. Rubio rejected accusations that Washington was delaying crucial ballistic missile interceptors or withdrawing support, calling such suggestions scandalous in coverage by NBC News.

President Trump expressed doubt on Tuesday regarding Zelensky’s commitment to ending the war, stating that he thinks Russia would like to get it done. Trump added that if Zelensky does not make a deal, it is going to get very bad for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Witkoff is scheduled to travel to St. Petersburg on Wednesday to meet with Putin, with Kushner participating virtually in the talks.

More on this story: Zelensky and US Envoy Meet in Oslo to Restart Peace Process and Restore Intelligence Sharing · Trump Envoys and Zelenskyy Set for Norway Talks

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