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Zelenskyy holds Oslo talks with US envoys as Trump presses for a deal

Zelenskyy said partner warnings on Russian missile strikes have resumed; Stubb said envoy Witkoff plans a St. Petersburg trip.

Updated Oct 21, 2026 · 05:43 UTC3 reports

The short version

  • Zelenskyy met Norwegian and Finnish leaders in Oslo, with US envoy Steve Witkoff present.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Zelenskyy said Ukraine is again receiving early warnings of Russian missile strikes after a call with Marco Rubio.[Deutsche Welle · NPR]
  • Rubio denied the US is withholding assistance or intelligence, while Trump said he wants Zelenskyy to make a deal with Russia.[Deutsche Welle · NPR · PBS NewsHour]
  • Stubb said Witkoff plans to travel to St. Petersburg Wednesday; EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas questioned whether US negotiators have been honest brokers.[Deutsche Welle · PBS NewsHour]

Key facts

  • Zelenskyy met Norwegian and Finnish leaders in Oslo, with US envoy Steve Witkoff present and Jared Kushner joining remotely.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Zelenskyy said Ukraine is again receiving early warnings from partners about incoming Russian missile strikes after a call with Marco Rubio.[Deutsche Welle · NPR]
  • Rubio denied that the US is withholding assistance or intelligence from Ukraine.[NPR · PBS NewsHour]
  • Trump said he wants Zelenskyy to make a deal with Russia.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Witkoff intends to travel to St. Petersburg on Wednesday to meet Russian leaders.[Deutsche Welle]
  • EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas questioned whether US negotiators have been honest brokers in peace efforts.[PBS NewsHour]

What remains uncertain

  • Zelenskyy's concerns that US support was slowing conflict with Rubio's denial, and the reporting does not resolve the dispute.[NPR · PBS NewsHour]
  • Witkoff's St. Petersburg trip is planned according to Stubb; the reporting does not confirm it occurred or its outcome.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Kallas's questioning of US negotiators' honesty is her own assessment, not an established finding.[PBS NewsHour]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.