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Europe Zelensky, US envoys to hold Oslo talks as Ukraine claims US missile holdup 20 Oct 2026

Updated 10:16 AM ET · 7:14 AM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: Zelensky's meeting with US envoys came after he had accused the US of delaying missile deliveries, a claim that has strained relations between the two countries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday, as part of diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the meeting aimed to put diplomatic efforts on a more constructive path, with Zelensky, Witkoff, and Kushner joining Finnish President Alexander Stubb for talks.

Zelensky accused the United States of deliberately delaying the delivery of interceptor missiles, a claim denied by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was in Uzbekistan on Monday.

During the meeting, Zelensky insisted that the US military satellite system Starshield needed to be restored and that ballistic missile interceptors were necessary to protect lives.

Witkoff and Kushner met Zelensky in Kyiv after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a renewed push to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky expressed frustration over the lack of reliable US intelligence, which he said was leading to civilian casualties.

Trump, meanwhile, criticized Zelensky, saying he did not know what he was talking about and called for an end to the war.

Zelensky also met with Finnish President Alexander Stubb ahead of the Oslo talks, emphasizing the need for open, honest, and pragmatic relations with the US.

The Ukrainian leader said he was ready to move forward constructively and honestly to end the war, adding that diplomatic momentum was growing.

Beskrestnov, told the BBC that the lack of reliable US warnings meant lives were being lost.

Despite the diplomatic efforts, relations between Kyiv and the US have soured in recent weeks, with Trump suggesting it was time for Ukraine to get a new president.

Zelensky also formed a Ukrainian delegation to participate in negotiations with Canada regarding preparations for a Centennial Partnership Agreement.

Background

What's confirmed

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held talks with former US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner as Russia and Ukraine have intensified attacks on each other's energy centers.

What's still developing

• The attacks came after Zelensky said that Kyiv would resume hitting Russian refineries in the face of unrelenting strikes.
• "We want to continue to have open, honest and pragmatic relations" with the US, Zelensky told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in an interview published on Tuesday.
• "We want to understand what is happening, why it's happening, and where all this is heading," Zelensky told a bipartisan group of U.S. senators and representatives.
• The BBC framed the Kyiv round as a continuation of diplomacy without a breakthrough, saying Witkoff was "encouraged" by what he called "substantive" and important talks in Kyiv.
• “I'm not sure about that, and we'll take a look. But all I know is that Zelensky and Putin have to get together and end that ridiculous war. This month they lost 32,000 people in that war, and it's ridiculous. So they have to get together and get it done,” Trump said.
• Steve Witkoff was due to hold talks in Oslo in person while Jared Kushner was taking part remotely Zelensky was set to join his Norwegian and Finnish counterparts for a press conference after the talks, but Witkoff was not expected to join them, according to the government in Oslo, external.
• Five people were killed and another 67 were injured on Thursday after a Russian drone hit a shopping center in Pavlohrad, in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region.
• Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the strike as a “tactic of coercion.” The attack comes amid an intensification of strikes on shopping centers in Ukraine.
• In Kyiv, Reuters reported military veteran Stepan Yermak said, "The issue can be solved in the blink of an eye. We want peace," while Svitlana Kurylenko, a 19-year-old cafe worker, said, "We need an agreement that will never be broken."
• "There are ideas for de-escalation steps and for addressing fundamental security issues – energy security, food security, and the protection of human life. We are working together with the American team and are ready to take really serious steps," he said.
• “The visit’s agenda will focus on shared Canadian-Ukrainian priorities, including deepening defense, economic, and energy cooperation,” the office of the Canadian Prime Minister confirmed.
• Also Read: New Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Offers 34 Kmpl Mileage, Luxury For The Super-Rich The Ukrainian embassy in Delhi also condemned the attack, calling Russia “barbarian” and saying it did not care that the “factory belongs to Indian owners” and was producing “critically needed medicines”.

Sources

• Informatlink
• Newscordlink
• Washingtonsunlink
• Justthenewslink
• Ukrinformlink
• Englishlink
• Gulfnewslink
• Newslink
• Fox Newslink
• Thejournallink
• WarpBeat — background on Zelensky Meets US Envoys in Oslo Amid Missile Delivery Claims link
• WarpBeat — background on Zelensky Meets US Envoys in Norway Amid Missile Delivery Claims link
• APT — video link