US envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, following what a US official described as “constructive” discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Oslo. The talks, which also included leaders from Norway and Finland along with European and NATO representatives, marked a significant diplomatic effort to coordinate a unified approach toward Russia.
A US official speaking to Reuters stated that Ukraine presented new ideas and proposals during the Oslo session. Participants reported making “meaningful progress” toward establishing a coordinated strategy for engaging Moscow. The discussions reportedly covered key components of a comprehensive peace framework, including security guarantees for Ukraine, a postwar economic plan, and a broader European security architecture.
Pathway to Trilateral Negotiations
The primary objective of the Oslo meeting was to establish a pathway toward direct trilateral and broader multilateral negotiations. Witkoff aims to bridge the gap between Kyiv and Moscow, a task complicated by recent tensions between Ukraine and the United States. President Donald Trump called on Ukraine to finalize a deal to end the war, stating that Kyiv must demonstrate a willingness to settle the conflict.
Zelenskyy traveled to Norway with the goal of repairing relations with Washington, which have deteriorated significantly. Recent US gestures toward Moscow, including a deal to purchase Russian diesel and a waiver on new sanctions, have triggered bipartisan criticism in the US Congress and concern among European allies. During the talks, Zelenskyy discussed the need for security guarantees similar to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which mandates collective defense. He expressed gratitude to the American side for reaffirming the strength of these potential commitments.
Starlink Restrictions and Pentagon Denials
Complicating the diplomatic landscape is the status of Starlink, the satellite internet service crucial for Ukraine’s military operations. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of Starshield, a military-grade version of the service used for battlefield communications and drone operations. US officials cited in the report indicated that the restriction hampered Ukraine’s ability to conduct attack and air defense drone missions against Russian forces.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied on Tuesday that the Pentagon had directed any changes to the Starshield service. “We haven’t pulled anything back,” Hegseth said, adding that no directives had been issued. President Trump also weighed in, stating he did not request any curbs on the service and suggesting that neither he nor Musk was responsible for the restrictions. Musk had previously noted that any limits on speed or usage were decided by the US military and the president.
Escalating Attacks and NATO Response
While diplomatic efforts continue, violence on the ground persists. The Russian military struck three cargo vessels in Ukraine’s port of Reni and two other ships en route to Odesa on Tuesday. Russian forces also targeted logistics hubs in the Volyn region and the city of Khmelnitskiy, claiming these sites were used for military purposes. A separate missile and drone attack on civilian areas in Ukraine killed at least nine people, according to local officials.
In response to increased instability in the region, NATO announced on Tuesday that it is deploying additional planes, drones, and radar systems to the Black Sea. This move follows a series of attacks on ships near Romania and Bulgaria. NATO spokesperson Col Martin O’Donnell stated that allies are sending maritime patrol aircraft, explosive exploitation teams, and intelligence personnel to the region. He emphasized that increasing situational awareness through enhanced sensors and data sharing is the most critical step.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin reported that work is underway to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin discussed the worsening food situation in the town with Trump and noted that Russia’s human rights commissioner is involved in addressing the issue.
Source: The Guardian
