Ukraine war: Zelenskyy meets US envoy as tensions with Trump deepen

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting United States and European officials in Norway as Kyiv seeks additional military assistance and renewed diplomatic engagement amid worsening tensions with Washington.

The talks in Oslo include US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, was also expected to participate virtually.

Zelenskyy said the discussions would focus on strengthening Ukraine’s air defences and expanding joint weapons production as Russia continues its military campaign against the country.

“We are maintaining all contacts that can help bring peace,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X after arriving in Oslo.

The meeting comes at a difficult moment for relations between Kyiv and Washington. Zelenskyy has expressed concern over delays in US military support and what he described as a slowdown in assistance that Ukraine needs to defend itself against Russian attacks.

Ukraine is particularly concerned about supplies of Patriot air defence interceptors, which are used to counter Russian ballistic missiles. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was close to exhausting its available American-made interceptors and claimed the Pentagon was delaying the delivery of missiles purchased by other countries for Kyiv.

He has also sought assurances that the United States will continue sharing intelligence following reports of delayed or missing warnings about Russian missile attacks.

The Ukrainian president said he had discussed these concerns with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describing their conversation as substantive and expressing gratitude for Rubio’s willingness to help.

Another point of concern is Ukraine’s access to the military-grade satellite communications services operated by SpaceX. Zelenskyy said restrictions on the system were affecting battlefield operations.

European governments have been trying to compensate for uncertainty surrounding future US assistance. According to figures from Germany’s Kiel Institute cited by the Associated Press, European countries and European Union institutions have allocated more support to Ukraine than the United States.

ALSO READ: NAFDAC won’t compromise on medicine safety under US-Nigeria deal — DG

The Oslo meeting is also taking place amid disagreement over the terms of a possible settlement with Russia. Ukrainian officials have expressed concern that Washington could press Kyiv to surrender territory in exchange for peace, while European officials have stressed the need to prevent a settlement that leaves Ukraine vulnerable to further attacks.

Russia, meanwhile, has indicated that it hopes to hold further meetings with US representatives. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow valued American mediation efforts, although he did not provide a confirmed date or location for a meeting.

The discussions in Norway are expected to address both immediate defence requirements and wider diplomatic efforts to end the war. Their outcome could influence the level of support Ukraine receives as it attempts to resist Russian attacks and maintain its negotiating position.

(Reuters)