Zelensky and US Envoy Meet in Oslo to Restart Peace Process and Restore Intelligence Sharing
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo, where they discussed peace proposals and the restoration of US intelligence sharing.
Oslo Talks and the Restored US Intelligence Sharing
Volodymyr Zelensky and European partners met with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo following a period of open friction with the United States, concluding talks that were initially anticipated to be anything but friendly with important and constructive discussions that brought the peace process back on track and focused on looking ahead. Zelensky announced in a press conference that US intelligence sharing necessary to defend against Russian attacks is functioning again. Zelensky stated that the participants worked to find a solution with clear ideas on achieving peace, in an effort to pave the way for a leadership summit.
Trump Urges Ukraine to Accept Territorial Concessions
While the Oslo meeting brought relief following days of tension between Western allies, the specific contents of the peace proposals remain lacking in detail. The New York Times reported that Donald Trump is attempting to persuade Ukraine to accept a peace agreement that includes territorial concessions in the Donbass, remaining determined to force the deal by telling Kyiv that resisting to keep the occupied portions of the eastern provinces is not worth it and that there is money to be made if it abandons its objections. Zelensky reiterated his stance on negotiations by proposing a trilateral summit between leaders while rejecting any meeting between Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping that excludes Kyiv, emphasizing that Ukraine must be present when its future is discussed. Witkoff will travel to Putin with the proposition of a three-way summit featuring Zelensky and Trump to secure a ceasefire, an idea previously dismissed by the Kremlin.
Diesel Deals and Tensions Over Military Supplies
The diplomatic friction between Washington and Kyiv intensified prior to the Oslo summit following Donald Trump’s agreement concerning Russian oil and subsequent public criticism of Zelensky. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Zelensky stated that limitations on intelligence sharing and reduced Starlink speeds had become a reality rather than mere threats, calling the situation unfair. He also accused Washington of intentionally delaying the delivery of interceptor missiles despite European payments. Secretary of State Marco Rubio countered these claims during a 45-minute phone call with Zelensky, stating that nothing was deliberately withheld and that Trump had issued no orders to harm Kyiv. Meanwhile, the human toll of the conflict continued as Russian drones struck the Kyiv-Odessa highway, killing three people and injuring four others, while a bombardment in Kramatorsk, Donetsk, killed three civilians, according to local authorities cited by ANSA.
Trump Considers Trilateral Meeting with Putin and Xi
Diplomatic options expanded as Donald Trump expressed openness to a trilateral meeting with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping to discuss strategic arms and nuclear disarmament, stating that he would do it when speaking to reporters on the southern lawn of the White House before departing for a campaign rally in Kansas, adding that commercial issues could also be on the agenda and suggesting the meeting might take place in China while noting he had not yet made a final decision. The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin had proposed a three-way summit during a phone call earlier in the month, which preceded Trump’s suspension of sanctions on Russian diesel to lower fuel prices ahead of the mid-term elections. Andrii Sybiha criticized the prospect of a US-Russia-China summit, writing that such a format would encourage Moscow to continue the war rather than end it. Meanwhile, in an interview with Corriere della Sera, Zelensky outlined a three-pillar security framework for a secure ceasefire consisting of the Ukrainian military, the European Union, and NATO. Zelensky also described his relationship with Giorgia Meloni as excellent, noting that military support involves bilateral technological and economic exchange through cooperation with the group Leonardo. Zelensky warned regarding hybrid warfare targeting European media and public opinion, noting that Russia has long conducted hybrid warfare against European nations including Italy, France, Great Britain, and Germany through television, media, the internet, and social networks. Domenico Giordano of Arcadia noted that analysis of protest disinformation in France—where on October 17 posts reached nearly ten times the normal daily volume with 8,977 publications and a peak of 1,562 at 19:00, and where posts about clashes in Milan’s Piazza Duomo reached 12.8 million views—serves as an alarming signal directly concerning Italy. The open questions regarding the exact terms of Witkoff’s proposals to Putin and whether the Kremlin will agree to a trilateral format remain unanswered as the US envoy heads to Russia.
