The Ukrainian president met with US envoys on Tuesday. Alamy
Oslo
Steve Witkoff will now meet Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR Zelensky held “very productive and constructive discussions” with US President Donald Trump’s envoys in Oslo on Tuesday, a US official told AFP.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff will now meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner participating virtually, the official said.
The talks came as Washington and Kyiv sought to heal a rift following Trump’s announcement of a diesel deal with Russia and pressure on Zelensky to end the war.
“Ukraine brought forward new ideas and proposals, which were discussed in detail,” the official said on condition of anonymity after the Oslo talks.
“The parties made meaningful progress in aligning on a coordinated approach to engaging Russia and advancing the diplomatic process.”
Witkoff’s meeting with Putin aims to “build on the progress” of the Oslo talks and create a pathway to direct three-way talks involving Kyiv, Moscow and Washington, the official said.
“While important work remains, today’s discussions reflected a very positive and constructive spirit, strong cooperation among the parties, and a shared determination to achieve a comprehensive and durable peace,” the official added.
Earlier Trump said he wants Zelenskyy to “make a deal” with Russia.
“We want Zelensky to make a deal. He can make a deal. He could have made a deal two years ago when we had our little chat in the Oval Office,” Trump told reporters in the same room.
Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Zelensky had a bruising televised confrontation in the Oval Office in February 2025, shortly after the Ukraine-skeptic US president returned to office.
“He’s going to have to want to make a deal, because I don’t think his people are going to stand for it any longer,” Trump said Tuesday.