The key facts

  • On Tuesday, Witkoff will hold talks in Oslo with Zelensky, Norway's prime minister, and representatives of the E4, the EU and NATO
  • Kushner will join virtually due to the flu; after Oslo, Witkoff intends to travel to Russia for a meeting with Putin
  • Trump said it is 'time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine'; the Kremlin highly appreciates US mediation

Talks in Oslo

US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Norway on Tuesday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, local media reported on Monday, citing a US official. According to the official, the discussions in Oslo are expected to include Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, representatives of the 'E4' — the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Poland — as well as the European Union and NATO. The goal is to coordinate a comprehensive proposal that could serve as a basis for resuming negotiations with Russia.

Kushner to Join Virtually

The day before, on Sunday, Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, spoke with Zelensky to assess progress and discuss next steps. According to the official, Kushner will participate in the Oslo discussions virtually: he has the flu and is avoiding in-person meetings to avoid spreading the illness.

Planned Trip to Russia

After the meetings in Oslo, Witkoff is expected to travel to Russia, where he hopes to meet with President Vladimir Putin and present ideas developed during consultations with Ukraine and European partners, the official said.

Reaction from Moscow and Washington

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing in Moscow on Monday that Russia highly values the US mediation efforts in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. According to him, a final settlement will require the participation of someone in Kyiv who is ready to take on responsibility. Meanwhile, Trump told journalists that it may be time for someone other than Zelensky to negotiate on Kyiv's behalf: 'I think it's time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine, because what has happened? A huge number of people have died. They are losing their male population. Maybe it's time for Zelensky to find someone else for the negotiations.'