Volodymyr Zelensky holds talks in Oslo with United States special envoys

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met United States special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo on Tuesday to resolve growing diplomatic friction. BBC News World and France 24 both reported that the discussions aimed to put bilateral relations back on a constructive path. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Zelensky requested that Norway and neighbouring Finland organize the meeting alongside European allies, according to the BBC. [1][3][4]

Following the talks, Zelensky said United States intelligence sharing on Russian missile attacks works now, BBC News World reported. France 24 reported that Zelensky told a press conference Ukraine was not losing the war but was losing people and time. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said genuine progress was made on peace proposals, although he warned that patience would be needed and that Russia must now respond, according to BBC News World. [1][4]

The meeting followed sharp exchanges between Washington and Kyiv over military support. According to the South China Morning Post, Zelensky had accused the United States of deliberately delaying the delivery of interceptor missiles and withholding critical intelligence. BBC News World and the BBC both reported that United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed claims that Washington was withholding intelligence as scandalous. [1][3][7]

Zelensky has served as president of Ukraine since 2019, leading the nation through the full-scale invasion that Russia launched in February 2022. As FTMQ World reported earlier, Witkoff previously joined discussions in Miami with European and Ukrainian officials to review peace proposals. [13][16]