‘We Need to Move On’: Zelensky Won’t Wait in Oslo for Witkoff After Putin Meeting

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday he would not wait in Oslo for US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff to return from talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I am not waiting for Witkoff in Oslo. We need to move on. We need to return to Ukraine,” Zelensky told Poland’s PAP news agency while visiting the Norwegian capital.

Zelensky said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre would receive an update on the outcome of Witkoff’s meeting with Putin, adding that Kyiv is in constant contact with Oslo.

“We shall see what the results are. Jonas is set to meet with the American special envoy. We remain in constant contact,” Zelensky said.

Earlier, Støre said Witkoff would stop in Oslo after meeting Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday to brief him on the talks.

Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg to present the Kremlin with peace proposals discussed in Oslo on Tuesday. The proposals reportedly concern postwar security guarantees for Ukraine and Kyiv’s future relationship with NATO.

In Oslo, Zelensky held talks with Witkoff, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Støre. He also spoke remotely with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

Before noon on Wednesday, Zelensky also met with Norwegian Parliament President Masud Gharahkhani and leaders of several political parties.

The diplomatic meetings come as Washington seeks progress toward ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.

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European diplomats fear Washington is pressuring Kyiv to accept a peace deal while showing too little willingness to force Putin to stop the war.

Witkoff praised Putin as a “humanist” during a meeting in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, even as Russian attacks continued to kill civilians across Ukraine.

Witkoff thanked the Kremlin leader for releasing US teacher Stephen Hubbard, whom Washington considered wrongfully detained, and presented proposals aimed at securing a ceasefire.

The praise contrasted with UN findings documenting mounting civilian casualties. At least 328 civilians were killed and 2,105 injured in Ukraine in September, according to UN monitors.

In an update published Oct. 16, the UN said Russian attacks continued to cause mass casualties in October, alongside renewed strikes on electricity and heating infrastructure ahead of winter.

Witkoff said he had brought documents outlining possible approaches to a peace settlement and urged Putin to consider resuming negotiations involving the US, Ukraine and Russia, potentially with technical working groups.

Trilateral talks under discussion

Meanwhile, Russian media are circulating a statement by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, who said the possibility of resuming trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the US and Russia was “specifically discussed” during Witkoff’s meeting with Putin.

“Our president informed Steve Witkoff that we are, in principle, prepared to resume the aforementioned trilateral talks around Nov. 10, focusing on a key issue: establishing a security framework for Russia and Ukraine following the end of the conflict,” Ushakov said.

Earlier, Zelensky said Kyiv and Washington had agreed on proposals to end the war during their meeting in Norway, including security guarantees for Ukraine.

He also confirmed that intelligence sharing with the US had resumed and said progress on Patriot interceptors and Starlink restrictions could come within 48 hours.

However, Trump later said Ukraine “has to want to make a deal,” claiming Washington and Europe had spent “a fortune” on Kyiv and that Europe was tired of the war.

Kyiv has repeatedly denied obstructing peace efforts, pointing to its ceasefire proposals and Zelensky’s offer of direct talks with Putin.

In September, 51 countries urged Moscow to accept an immediate truce at the UN General Assembly, but Russia rejected proposals to pause the war, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying the Kremlin would not suspend hostilities even during potential negotiations.