According to Reuters, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan to travel to Norway this week for talks on peace in Ukraine, with Witkoff then due to go to russia.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan to travel to Norway this week for a new round of talks on ending the war, Reuters and Ukrinform reported on 20 October. The plans are not final and could change, and the White House has not commented. Volunteers Support Ukraine follows diplomacy closely, because it shapes when people can return to a peaceful life.
As the Kyiv Independent reports, citing Reuters, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is expected to host representatives of Britain, France, Germany and Poland, as well as the EU and NATO. Zelensky may also attend, while Kushner, according to one source, may join remotely because of illness.
After Norway, Witkoff is due to travel to russia to meet putin, according to Reuters. One topic is the release of American Stephen Hubbard, whom russia detained in 2022 and who has reportedly served with a Ukrainian territorial defense unit in Izium, Kharkiv Oblast. The previous round of talks took place in Miami on 9 October, lasted six hours and was halted after a Trump–putin diesel deal was announced.
The talks come amid disputes: Ukraine reports restricted access to Starshield, hampered intelligence sharing and delayed Patriot deliveries paid for by allies. NATO officials say deliveries under the purchasing initiative continue, and a US official disputed Kyiv's allegations. Zelensky told Bloomberg he proposed suspending Ukrainian strikes on russian oil infrastructure in exchange for more American Patriot interceptors. The Kyiv Independent reports that Washington is pressing Kyiv to stop targeting refineries.
There are no results yet, and the trip itself may change. Volunteers Support Ukraine continues to help people affected by the war in whatever way its available resources allow, however the negotiations turn out.
