After Oslo talks, Zelensky says Ukraine backs US energy ceasefire proposal; Witkoff to take ideas to Russia

Update, 7:11am GMT Wednesday: Witkoff arrived in St Petersburg on Wednesday morning and was met on the runway by Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, Reuters and the BBC reported. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Putin would receive Witkoff at the Konstantinovsky Palace in the first half of Wednesday, RIA Novosti and Interfax reported. Witkoff’s motorcade later arrived at the palace, RIA Novosti said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Witkoff’s meeting with Zelensky had been positive and that he would share the results with Russia, Reuters reported.

Update, 4:08am GMT Wednesday: A US official described the Oslo talks as “very productive and constructive” and confirmed that Witkoff is due to meet President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday, with Kushner again taking part by video, the BBC reported. Zelensky said after the talks that US intelligence sharing on Russian missile attacks “works now”. “Speaking about early warning… we can hear when ballistic[s] is coming - so we are thankful to American side, now it works,” he said, adding: “Of course, we are not losing this war, but we are losing people because Russia attacks.” At the White House, President Donald Trump told reporters it was “time for Ukraine to end this war” and that Russia would like to “get it done”, the BBC said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had said Moscow would listen to Witkoff’s proposals while ruling out “any political concessions”. Ukrainian officials said at least 10 people were killed in Russian drone attacks on Tuesday and two more near Kharkiv overnight, according to the BBC.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday 20 October that Ukraine had “immediately” supported a US proposal for an energy ceasefire but that Russia “responded by continuing its attacks”, speaking at a news conference in Oslo after talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, the BBC reported. Jared Kushner joined by video link.

Zelensky said he wanted the US side to pass ideas from the meeting to Moscow, including a possible trilateral meeting of leaders. “Let’s see what Putin has to say,” he said. He also said security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5 were discussed, according to BBC News Ukrainian.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called the talks “good and constructive” and said Witkoff would fly to St Petersburg on Wednesday to meet the Russian leadership. He said the issues covered included Ukraine’s security, a post-war prosperity plan, territory and sanctions, and that “Europe needs to be at the table”. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said there had been “genuine progress”, including on air defence, energy installations and partial ceasefires.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow hoped Witkoff could brief President Vladimir Putin soon on the positions of Ukraine and Europe, AFP reported via NRK.

Background: Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The talks followed weeks of public disagreement between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump over a US diesel deal with Russia and a waiver of US sanctions.

See also: Witkoff heads to Oslo for Ukraine talks.