Ukraine: Oslo talks, a Trump–Zelensky rift and a hard winter ahead

Zelensky met U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and European leaders in Oslo as President Trump grows more critical of him and Russia keeps hitting Ukraine's power grid.

What's happening

On October 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks in Oslo with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and European leaders, including the prime ministers of Norway and Finland; Jared Kushner was expected to join remotely. Norway's prime minister said Zelensky had asked for Witkoff and Kushner to take part. Earlier in October, U.S., Ukrainian and European officials met in the United States, and the U.S. has proposed three-way talks with Russia.

President Trump has grown more frustrated with Zelensky, publicly accusing him of not wanting to end the war and suggesting someone else should negotiate for Kyiv, while easing pressure on Russia. Earlier this month he lifted sanctions on Russian diesel exports to bring down U.S. fuel prices, which have risen during the Iran war; Zelensky called that a "reward" for Putin.

Ukraine's complaints

Zelensky has said the U.S. is withholding some intelligence and limiting Starlink speeds, and that Ukraine urgently needs more U.S.-made Patriot interceptors. He called a talk with Secretary of State Marco Rubio "constructive"; Rubio did not confirm any commitments.

The war on the ground

Russian strikes keep targeting energy sites ahead of winter. On October 20 alone, a drone strike on the Kyiv–Odesa highway killed three people, and attacks on three energy facilities left more than 32,000 families in the Odesa region without power. Earlier in October, Russian attacks killed about 80 civilians over two days, including a strike on buses in Kramatorsk. Ukraine continues drone strikes on Russian oil facilities.

The case for continued strong support for Ukraine

Supporters say Russia invaded a sovereign country and that rewarding aggression invites more of it, including against NATO members. They argue sanctions relief and pressure on Zelensky weaken Ukraine's hand, and that Ukraine needs air defenses and security guarantees before any ceasefire.

The case for a faster settlement

Others argue the front lines have barely moved, that the cost in lives and money keeps rising, that U.S. priorities and fuel prices at home should come first, and that a negotiated deal, even with painful compromises, is better than an open-ended war.

What to watch

Whether the Oslo talks lead to three-way talks with Russia, whether the U.S. speeds up air-defense deliveries, attacks on each side's energy systems over the winter, and whether Europe fills any gap in U.S. support.