Witkoff Lands in Oslo for Talks With Zelensky and European Leaders
US special envoy Steve Witkoff landed in Oslo shortly before noon on Tuesday, October 20, for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported. The Norwegian government has confirmed that the meeting will take place.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Ukraine had asked for Donald Trump's special peace envoys, Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to join the Oslo meetings on ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Kushner will take part remotely: media earlier reported that Trump's son-in-law has fallen ill, and Axios says he has the flu. Finnish President Alexander Stubb is also traveling to Norway.
Who is at the table
According to Axios, the talks will also include representatives of the so-called E4 — the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Poland — as well as EU and NATO officials. The format brings together Ukraine, its European allies and the United States, which are trying to draft a peace proposal to present to Russia.
Støre described the aim as shifting diplomatic efforts onto "a more constructive track."
What comes next
A US official told Axios that after Oslo, Witkoff also plans to visit Russia, where he hopes to meet Vladimir Putin and present ideas developed in close cooperation with Ukraine and European partners. The Oslo meetings build on discussions at Witkoff's club near Miami, where Ukraine committed to consider and advance a number of proposals meant to open a path to a comprehensive and lasting peace.
President Trump has instructed that intensive work be carried out on a comprehensive peace proposal together with Ukraine and Europe, and the next step is to test whether this work can become the basis for serious negotiations with Russia.
The official added that over the past week US, Ukrainian and European representatives worked jointly on the proposals, and that Witkoff and Kushner spoke with Zelensky on Sunday to take stock and discuss next steps.
The trip is also expected to include efforts to secure the release of Stephen Gabbard, a retired American teacher whom the United States says is being held illegally in Russia. For more on the broader context, see our World coverage.