Zelensky seeks to mend US rift in Oslo as Trump warms to Moscow

• Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and US envoy Steve Witkoff are in Oslo, as Ukraine tries to repair ties with the United States.
• US President Donald Trump has lifted key sanctions on Russia and rebuked Zelensky, while Kyiv says US delays on missiles, intelligence and Starlink are hurting its defence.
• Russian attacks have intensified, killing civilians and damaging power sites, as Norway and Finland host talks to push diplomacy onto a more constructive path.

OSLO – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky was due to meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo on Oct 20 in a bid to mend ties strained by President Donald Trump’s recent overtures to Moscow.

Trump, who has waived sanctions on Russia in what he says is an effort to lower US fuel prices, has repeatedly rebuked Zelensky and called for him to be replaced.

Kyiv says Washington has lately failed to provide early warning notification of Russian missile launches, and has throttled SpaceX satellite links that guide Ukrainian drones, and failed to deliver air defences paid for by Ukraine’s European allies.

In the latest comments expressing warmth towards Moscow and coldness towards Kyiv, Trump said on Oct 19: “Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine”. Zelensky was “not helping matters much”, and Kyiv should find “somebody else to negotiate”.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged on Oct 20 that a consignment of US air defence missiles bought by Europeans for Ukraine may not have been delivered, but played down the significance.

“I think the important takeaway for you is that there has not been some deliberate political directive to go out and harm Ukraine,” he told journalists during a visit to India.

The Kremlin said it was hoping to set up a meeting soon between Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin, an apparent indication that Witkoff could head to Russia after meeting Zelensky.

As US ties with Ukraine have deteriorated, Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian cities, particularly targeting power stations and fuel in apparent defiance of a call from Trump for both sides to spare each other’s energy systems.

Ukraine held back for several days from hitting Russian oil refineries in deference to Trump’s request but resumed strikes after no sign Russia was complying. Both sides have also struck data centres.

Trump has criticised the Ukrainian attacks on Russia while saying little about Russia’s more severe attacks on Ukraine, which Kyiv says have become even more intense and deadlier because of the withdrawal of US technology to fend them off.

In the latest attacks, Ukrainian officials said a Russian drone struck near a petrol station on a highway heading south out of Kyiv, killing three people and setting cars ablaze.

Footage released by Ukraine’s emergency services of a separate attack on a warehouse in the capital that also killed three people showed firefighters battling a huge blaze, surrounded by twisted wreckage.

Energy facilities were attacked in seven Ukrainian regions overnight, knocking out power, and the western Lviv region was struck again during the day. Three other people were reported killed in Kramatorsk in the east.

Ballistic missile interceptors

Zelensky said he spoke with Rubio about ballistic missile interceptors, early warning of Russian attacks, and “the situation with Starlink/Starshield, which needs to be restored”.

“Of course, all of this comes against the backdrop of our diplomatic efforts to end this horrific war and the constant killing of people,” Zelensky said in a post on X.

The deterioration of relations began 10 days ago when Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel in a deal agreed with Putin, which he said would help reduce prices. High fuel costs since Trump launched strikes on Iran have hurt his Republicans before legislative elections in November.

Trump has since repeatedly berated Zelensky over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, which Kyiv says are one of its few ways of fighting back after nearly five years of intensive Russian bombardment.

Trump later issued a broad waiver for tougher sanctions on Russia that were meant to have begun this week.

Washington denies withholding intelligence from Kyiv or imposing curbs on Starshield, the military-grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink communications system.

Kyiv says the satellite receptors no longer work when mounted on fast-moving objects such as drones. SpaceX boss Elon Musk has said Starshield is controlled by the US government and any limits on its use are ultimately up to Trump.

Western European countries consider defending Ukraine from Russia’s invasion to be an existential issue for European security and have strongly backed Zelensky, seeking to head off a deeper rupture between Washington and Kyiv.

The United States under Trump has largely stopped providing weapons to Ukraine but lets European countries buy them on Kyiv’s behalf. It also provides intelligence and technology that Europe cannot match.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said the goal of hosting the Oslo meetings was “to steer the diplomatic efforts onto a more constructive path”.

Finland is co-hosting the talks. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said he would attend to discuss “Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and the overall security situation in Europe”.

Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who has led US negotiating efforts with Witkoff, was expected to attend meetings virtually, Norway said. REUTERS