Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remained in Oslo following talks with U.S. representatives and European partners. U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to return to Norway after meeting Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg and report on the outcome of the talks.
This was reported by The Moscow Times.
On the morning of October 21, Zelenskyy held another meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
“A lot depends on whether the American side manages to hear something new from Russia today — about peace, rather than the continuation of the war,” the Ukrainian president said.
Støre said Witkoff is expected to return to Oslo after the talks in Russia. According to him, a meeting with the U.S. envoy could take place directly at the airport so that they can receive information about Moscow’s position.
Witkoff’s return to Norway after talks with Putin effectively creates a format of consecutive consultations between the parties. The Norwegian prime minister had also confirmed that the U.S. envoy planned to return to Oslo after his visit to Russia.
Witkoff presented Putin with proposals to end the war
Witkoff arrived in St. Petersburg on October 21, where he met with Putin. The day before, the U.S. envoy held talks with Zelenskyy and European partners in Oslo.
During the open part of the meeting, Witkoff said he had brought documents outlining approaches to a possible peace settlement.
He also proposed that the Russian side consider resuming trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the United States and Russia.
“Even if today we do not have an opportunity to receive some final answer or decision on this issue, I think it would be good to discuss it so that you consider such a proposal. I believe that all of us, and the world, are ready for this,” Witkoff said.
The U.S. envoy proposed resuming the trilateral format in which representatives of Ukraine, the United States and Russia could discuss further steps toward a settlement.
During the open part of the meeting, Putin thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his efforts and said Russia was interested in restoring economic relations with the United States.
Earlier, “Glavnoe in Ukraine” reported that Steve Witkoff met Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Oslo before travelling to Russia. The sides discussed security guarantees for Ukraine, a possible peace settlement and further talks at the leaders’ level.
