Russia unleashed another missile and drone blitz of civilian areas in Ukraine, killing at least nine people, officials said Tuesday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scrambled to ensure more American and European help during his visit to Norway.
US envoy Steve Witkoff, who, along with Jared Kushner, has tried without success to steer Russia and Ukraine toward a settlement and end their war, was also in Oslo. Kushner, who is US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, was due to attend the meeting with Zelenskyy by videoconference.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb were also scheduled to meet with Zelenskyy in Norway’s capital. “We are maintaining all contacts that can help bring peace,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X after he arrived in Oslo. He said that officials gathered in Norway would discuss strengthening Ukraine’s air defences and joint production of weapons.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow hopes that a meeting in Russia with the US envoys can be organised soon, though he didn’t give any indication about where or when. He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meetings with Trump’s envoys - potentially as early as Wednesday - would be “very important.” “We highly appreciate the mediation efforts of the American negotiators,” Peskov said.
Zelenskyy speaks with Rubio after US support slows
With further US support for Ukraine in doubt as relations between Zelenskyy and Trump sour again, the Ukrainian leader said that he spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is on a trip to Asia. That conversation came after Zelenskyy told a bipartisan group of US lawmakers on Monday that he believes “some political decision has been made to slow down ... support for us.” Ukraine has nearly run out of American-made Patriot air defence interceptors that it needs to stop Russia’s ballistic missiles, according to Zelenskyy, who has pleaded for Washington to send more. But he said that the Pentagon is delaying the delivery of missiles that other countries have purchased for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also said that he sought Rubio’s help to ensure that the United States continues to share vital intelligence with Ukraine after Kyiv had received no or belated warnings about Russian missile attacks in recent days.