Photo: EPA
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff plans to visit Norway this week for another round of talks on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, and is also expected to travel to Russia to meet Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with the preparations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Poland, as well as officials from the European Union and NATO, are expected to take part in the talks in Oslo.
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was also expected to participate, has fallen ill and is likely to join the meeting remotely.
Two Reuters sources said Witkoff also plans to meet Putin in Russia. The discussions are expected to cover several issues related to Ukraine, as well as the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American imprisoned in Russia.
The sources stressed that the travel schedule remains tentative and could change.
The talks are being prepared amid growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington. Ukraine has accused the US administration of restricting the operating speed of the Starshield satellite system, reducing intelligence sharing and delaying deliveries of Patriot missiles paid for by other countries.
According to one Reuters source, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has yet to approve the latest package of American weapons purchased by NATO allies under the PURL initiative. The source could not confirm whether the package includes Patriot missiles.
“All this indicates that a political decision has been made to slow down support for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said on Monday.
US officials have denied Ukraine’s allegations.
On the same day, Trump again criticized Zelenskyy, accusing him of being unwilling to negotiate peace with Russia. The US president suggested that it might be time for Ukraine’s leader to “find someone else to negotiate with.”
