Zelensky due to speak after talks with US special envoy Witkoffpublished at 17:54 BST
17:54 BST
Image source, ReutersImage caption,
US special envoy Steve Witkoff hugged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before the Oslo talks began
Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, have met in Oslo today during what has been described as “a critical time for Ukraine” by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Støre said Zelensky requested Norway and Finland to organise talks between European allies and the US after relations between Kyiv and Washington began to sour in recent weeks.
Trump said earlier this month it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president following Zelensky’s criticism of a US diesel deal with Russia.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today rejected as “scandalous” accusations that Ukrainians were dying because the US was withholding intelligence from Kyiv.
Støre said the aim of the Oslo talks was to steer relations towards “a more constructive path”, while Zelensky said earlier he had a “constructive discussion” with Rubio about the need for US early warnings, missile interceptors and SpaceX’s Starlink network.
We’re expecting to hear from President Zelensky, PM Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb later, so stick with us as we bring you the key updates.