Diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine have gained renewed momentum following talks in Oslo involving Ukrainian leaders, US officials and European representatives, with attention now shifting to a meeting between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to Reuters, a US official described Tuesday's discussions as “constructive”, saying meaningful progress had been made towards developing a coordinated approach for engagement with Moscow.
Witkoff, special envoy to US President Donald Trump, is expected to meet Putin on Wednesday, 21 October, carrying proposals discussed during the talks in the Norwegian capital.
Participants in the Oslo discussions included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, as well as representatives of European countries and NATO.
According to Reuters, Ukraine presented new ideas and proposals as part of broader efforts to develop a comprehensive peace plan.
The discussions focused on:
- Security guarantees for Ukraine.
- Post-war economic reconstruction.
- The future European security architecture.
The US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the aim of Witkoff's meeting with Putin is to pave the way for direct trilateral negotiations as well as wider multilateral talks.
Security guarantees at the centre of discussions
Kyiv continues to place particular importance on guarantees that could prevent a future Russian attack following any peace agreement.
Zelenskyy said the talks included discussions on security arrangements resembling the protections contained in NATO's Article 5, which establishes the principle of collective defence.
The Ukrainian president expressed satisfaction with US assurances that any guarantees would be robust, although details have not yet been finalised.
Despite the positive assessment of the Oslo talks, no final agreement has been reached and it remains unclear whether Moscow will accept the proposals being presented by the US envoy.
Trump increases pressure on Kyiv
The diplomatic activity comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv, with Trump intensifying pressure on the Ukrainian leadership to bring the war to an end.
According to Reuters, the US president called on Ukraine on Tuesday to reach an agreement with Russia, arguing that the time has come to end the conflict.
Recent US policy moves towards Moscow, including the easing of certain sanctions and an agreement involving the purchase of Russian diesel, have raised concerns in Kyiv and several European capitals.
At the same time, the Ukrainian government has complained about delays in US military assistance and intelligence-sharing.
Zelenskyy said, however, that the supply of US early-warning intelligence on Russian missile attacks had been restored following discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Moscow's response seen as decisive
Attention is now focused on the expected meeting between Witkoff and Putin in St Petersburg.
The Kremlin has previously indicated that it expects the US envoy to brief the Russian leadership on proposals and positions emerging from discussions with Ukraine and European partners.
Although Washington has portrayed the Oslo meeting as a significant step forward, the future of negotiations still depends heavily on Russia's response and whether differences over security guarantees, territorial claims and the terms of any settlement can be bridged.
Military operations continue, and major disagreements remain unresolved.
As a result, Wednesday's meeting with Putin is widely viewed as the first major test of the coordinated diplomatic effort that emerged from the Oslo talks.
Trump urges Ukraine to strike a deal
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said Ukraine should seek a negotiated settlement with Russia.
“Ukraine must want this war to be settled,” he said.
Trump, who has placed considerably more public pressure on Zelenskyy than on Putin, said he wants Ukraine to reach an agreement with Russia to end the conflict.
“Zelenskyy must have the will to end this war, and if that doesn't happen, things will go very badly,” Trump warned during remarks at the White House.
Source: ANA-MPA / Reuters
