Trump's Envoy Heads to Putin After Oslo Talks
Special envoy Steve Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the leaders of Norway and Finland in Oslo, then left for a scheduled meeting with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Zelenskyy said U.S. early-warning intelligence on Russian missiles "works now," and President Trump said he has asked Putin to free Stephen Hubbard, a retired Michigan teacher held in Russia.
Proposals worked out in Oslo by Ukraine, the United States, Norway and Finland are headed to Moscow: Steve Witkoff is scheduled to put them to Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, with Jared Kushner joining by video. One idea is a meeting of the Ukrainian, Russian and American leaders.
Zelenskyy said U.S. intelligence that warns Ukraine of incoming Russian ballistic missiles "works now," after Kyiv had accused Washington of holding it back. He said he hopes for a good result on Ukraine's Starlink satellite internet service too. Stubb said "genuine progress" was made but gave no details. A U.S. official called the talks "very productive and constructive." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would listen to Witkoff but ruled out "any political concessions."
In Washington, Trump said he has asked Putin to release Stephen Hubbard, a retired English teacher from Michigan held in Russia for more than four years. "It's time to get Mr. Hubbard back," Trump said. A White House official said Witkoff's trip will also seek Hubbard's release.
Oslo, Norway — President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy here with the leaders of Norway and Finland, and then left for St. Petersburg, where a U.S. official said he is to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the proposals worked out in Oslo.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb took part in the talks, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner joined by video. He is to take part in the Putin meeting by video as well.
What came out of Oslo
Zelenskyy said security guarantees for Ukraine and proposals for a ceasefire on energy targets were discussed. Stubb said "genuine progress" was made but gave no details and said patience would be needed. A U.S. official described the talks as "very productive and constructive," with "strong alignment at the working level" among the United States, Ukraine and Europe on "the next steps." Støre said Europe "needs to be at the table" in any talks on ending the war. Zelenskyy and the Europeans said it is now up to Russia to answer. Zelenskyy said one of the ideas Witkoff is carrying is a meeting of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia and the United States, which Moscow has so far refused. A U.S. official said the updated proposal is meant to "create a pathway toward direct trilateral and broader multilateral negotiations."
Zelenskyy said Ukraine is "ready for negotiations." "Of course, we are not losing this war, but we are losing people because Russia attacks," he said.
Missile warnings and Starlink
In recent days Kyiv had said Washington was holding back intelligence that gives early warning of Russian missile launches, a claim Secretary of State Marco Rubio called "scandalous." After the Oslo talks, Zelenskyy said: "Speaking about early warning, which is very important for our people, our children, adults, civilians because we can hear when ballistic[s] is coming — so we are thankful to American side, now it works, it's great."
He said he also hopes for a good result on Starlink, the SpaceX satellite network Ukraine's forces use, after the military reported speed limits on the service. Rubio, traveling in India, said it may be true that more Patriot interceptor missiles had not yet arrived in Ukraine but that nothing had been withheld on purpose.
Washington and Moscow
At the White House, Trump said he wants Kyiv to "make a deal," that Russia would like to "get it done," and that it is "time for Ukraine to end this war." In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia would listen to what Witkoff offers but ruled out "any political concessions." Putin has not commented publicly.
The American in a Russian prison
Trump also said he has asked Putin to release Stephen Hubbard, a retired English teacher from Michigan who was living in eastern Ukraine when Russia invaded in February 2022. Russian forces took him to Moscow, where a court sentenced him to seven years in prison. "I've been talking to President Putin about Mr. Hubbard. I've been talking to him at length," Trump said. "It's time to get Mr. Hubbard back." Asked whether a deal was close, he said, "Just remember that question for a couple of days from now."
A White House official said Witkoff's trip "is also expected to include efforts to seek the release of wrongfully detained American citizen Hubbard."