Putin and Trump negotiate amid Oslo talks as Ukraine war drags on
Norwegian and Finnish leaders are using a meeting in Oslo to push for a three-way dialogue involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine, while Trump’s envoy meets Putin in St. Petersburg.
The Oslo process, led by Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre and Finland’s Alexander Stubb, seeks to lay groundwork for post-war security arrangements and a potential three-party summit involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine later this year. Parallel to these efforts, Trump’s representative Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, during which Putin freed Stephen Hubbard and delivered a diesel cargo to the United States, gestures presented as goodwill toward Trump ahead of the U.S. midterms.
Russian foreign ministry officials described the Oslo talks as having little substance, while senior adviser Jurij Ushakov hinted that the conflict may be nearing its end, without providing details. Despite the diplomatic activity, Russia continued missile strikes on Kyiv, resulting in at least two fatalities. The prospect of a direct meeting between Zelenskyj and Putin, or a three-way summit with Trump, remains distant, as both sides await further concessions from Moscow.
Why it matters
The talks could shape the future of the Ukraine war and influence U.S. election politics.
How this story developed
- Oct 14 SpaceX throttles Starlink in Ukraine, hampering drone strike operations
- Oct 19 Trump suspended a sanctions package on Russia, lifted a restriction on Russian diesel exports, and blamed Zelenskyy for prolonging the war.
- Oct 19 Trump imposed a speed limitation on Starshield and announced a three‑month diesel sanctions waiver.
- Oct 20 Patriot missile shipment remains pending a Defense Secretary signature.
- Oct 20 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in India that the United States is not intentionally blocking arms shipments to Ukraine, though a missile delivery may have been delayed.
- Oct 20 Marco Rubio denounced Zelensky’s claim of U.S. aid cuts as scandalous during Oslo talks.
- Oct 20 Senator Marco Rubio told President Zelensky that U.S. policy on intelligence sharing, arms sales and restrictions has not changed.
- Oct 21 President Trump intensified criticism of Zelensky in a White House briefing, saying Ukraine was delaying a settlement.
- Oct 21 Jared Kushner joined the Oslo discussions via video link.
- Oct 21 President Vladimir Putin hosted US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg, where Russia released 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard, who had been held on mercenary charges.
- Oct 21 The meeting highlighted a diesel trade agreement linked to President Trump and shifted attention away from substantive peace proposals.
- Oct 22 Missile and drone attacks hit Kyiv, injuring civilians, after the Witkoff‑Putin meeting.
- Oct 22 Seven people were killed and dozens wounded in multiple Ukrainian cities after the meeting, marking the deadliest wave of attacks since the talks began.
- Oct 22 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Russia hit Kyiv overnight with three ballistic missiles carrying cluster munition warheads.
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