In brief
Volodymyr Zelensky landed in Oslo for a high‑stakes summit with US envoy Steve Witkoff and European allies amid growing tension over intelligence sharing. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called accusations that Kyiv was suffering because the US withheld warnings “scandalous” and “outrageous.” Zelensky demanded more reliable U.S. early‑warning data and missile interceptors, while European leaders pressed for a diplomatic finish to the war. The meeting aims to reset U.S.–Ukraine relations after Trump’s blunt comments and stalled Patriot missile deliveries.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Oslo, Norway, to meet U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and European leaders after weeks of strained ties with the United States.
The talks come at a crisis point, with Zelensky calling on Norway and Finland to broker a meeting with the U.S. he said was needed to “avoid further bloodshed.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed accusations that Kyiv was losing lives because the U.S. was withholding intelligence. “It is scandalous and outrageous,” Rubio said, noting that some U.S. warning data had been delivered while other pieces lagged.
Zelensky’s military adviser, Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, warned that variability in early warnings was costing soldiers’ lives. He said, “Sometimes we receive this information before an attack, sometimes we do not.”
European officials, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb and representatives from the UK, Poland, France and Germany, will join the summit via video link, while Jared Kushner, Trump’s son‑in‑law, is also slated to participate remotely.
The goal, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, is to steer ties “toward a more constructive path” and to work toward a diplomatic end to the war that is both lasting and just.
Zelensky highlighted the need for U.S. early‑warning systems, Patriot missile interceptors, and continued support for SpaceX’s Starlink internet network. A bipartisan U.S. Senate group has called for an urgent probe into disruptions to Starlink in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent calls with President Trump added further tension, as the U.S. lifted sanctions on Russian diesel after Russia promised to supply large volumes to the U.S. and other markets.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Europe has been shouldering a disproportionate defence burden for Ukraine. He urged the U.S. to accept joint responsibility for ending the conflict.
In a separate interview, Vice‑President JD Vance described Ukraine as an informal partner rather than a formal ally, noting that Europe would continue to support the country even as differences on strategy persist.
