Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Oslo on Tuesday to meet with United States special envoy Steve Witkoff in a high-stakes bid to repair bilateral ties that have deteriorated sharply this month. The diplomatic friction follows a series of moves by US President Donald Trump that have favored Moscow while publicly criticizing Kyiv’s leadership.
The strain in relations intensified after Washington waived sanctions on Russian diesel in an effort to lower domestic fuel prices, which have spiked following US strikes on Iran and threatened Republican prospects ahead of upcoming legislative elections. Trump has subsequently berated Zelenskiy over Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian oil refineries—a tactic Kyiv views as vital for defending itself after nearly five years of intensive Russian bombardment—and suggested that Ukraine should find someone else to negotiate an end to the war.
On Monday, Trump offered further praise for Moscow while criticizing Kyiv, stating that Russia had been fine on Ukraine and that Zelenskiy was not helping matters. The comments accompanied a broad waiver delaying tougher sanctions on Russia that were scheduled to take effect under a new bipartisan law named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away in July.
Kyiv has raised serious concerns regarding a rollback in vital support from Washington. Ukrainian officials report that the US has recently failed to provide early warning of Russian missile launches, throttled SpaceX’s Starshield satellite links utilized for guiding Ukrainian drones, and failed to deliver air defense systems purchased and paid for by European allies. According to Kyiv, SpaceX’s Starshield receptors no longer function when mounted on fast-moving objects such as drones. SpaceX chief Elon Musk stated that Starshield is controlled by the US government and that any operational limits are ultimately decided by Trump.
Washington has denied withholding intelligence from Kyiv or imposing restrictions on the Starshield system. Meanwhile, Russian forces have intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities, striking energy systems and data centers. Ukrainian officials reported that a recent Russian drone strike near a petrol station on a highway south of the capital killed three people and ignited several cars.
Zelenskiy addressed the security gaps publicly, noting that he spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding ballistic missile interceptors, early warning capabilities, and the restoration of Starshield functionality. Writing on X, Zelenskiy emphasized that these defense needs are critical against the backdrop of ongoing diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict.
European nations, viewing the defense of Ukraine as vital to continental security, have strongly supported Zelenskiy to prevent a deeper breach between Washington and Kyiv. While the US has largely halted direct weapons provisions to Ukraine, it continues to allow European allies to purchase weaponry on Kyiv’s behalf while supplying indispensable intelligence and technology.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere stated that the objective of hosting Tuesday’s diplomatic meetings in Oslo is to steer diplomatic efforts onto a more constructive path. Finnish President Alexander Stubb is also attending the discussions alongside Zelenskiy and Stoere to address Russia’s war of aggression and broader European security. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law who has joined Witkoff in leading US negotiation efforts, was expected to participate virtually.
