Trump and Zelenskyy: Rift Deepens as Oslo Peace Talks Open

What happened

The split between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy widened this week, just as a new round of peace talks got underway in Norway. Asked on Monday, Oct. 19, whether the war with Russia could be negotiated without Zelenskyy, Trump said, “I think it’s time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine,” the Associated Press reports.

A day later, Zelenskyy sat down in Oslo with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb hosted, and Jared Kushner was expected to join remotely because of illness, according to The Kyiv Independent. No results had been announced by Tuesday evening.

The AP described the relationship between Washington and Kyiv as heading toward a possible breaking point.

Why the Trump-Zelenskyy relationship soured

The rift didn’t start with one remark. It built over about two weeks, as several U.S. decisions landed on Kyiv at once:

The common thread is fuel prices. Diesel and gasoline costs have climbed since the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran in February, and the diesel deal and the sanctions waiver both ease pressure on Russian energy. Trump says he wants to keep Moscow at the negotiating table. Zelenskyy called the waiver a “reward” for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al Jazeera reports.

The three complaints from Kyiv

Air defense. In a briefing with U.S. lawmakers, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has “almost no Patriot interceptors left from the United States.” He says the Pentagon is holding up missiles that European partners already paid for through PURL, a program in which allies fund U.S. weapons for Ukraine. Citing The Washington Post, Straight Arrow News reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has neither approved nor rejected those transfers. Several European countries are ready to send interceptors from their own stocks but need U.S. sign-off, because the missiles are American-made.

Warnings. Zelenskyy said that three times in the past week, Ukraine didn’t get the usual advance warning of Russian attacks from its partners.

Satellites. Ukraine’s drones and communications rely on Starshield, the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink. Zelenskyy says speed limits now leave his drones unable to catch Russia’s jet-powered drones. Nobody has claimed responsibility. Elon Musk says the U.S. military decides any limits, and Trump said he didn’t order them.

What Washington says

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says intelligence sharing has not paused, and on Tuesday he said delays in air defense shipments were not deliberate, while acknowledging there may be some, according to The Kyiv Independent. He has also said the Pentagon controls Starshield and that Ukraine is seeking to use it for strikes outside its own territory.

In Congress, the reaction crosses party lines. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., wants hearings on the Starshield slowdowns. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who chairs the Armed Services Committee, urged Trump to accept an offer from Zelenskyy: Ukraine stops hitting Russian energy sites, and the U.S. helps it target Russian missiles. Wicker argued that could also bring down gas prices, the AP reports.

What happens next

• Oslo results. Zelenskyy said the talks would cover strengthening air defense and joint production. He planned a one-on-one with Witkoff, a meeting with the Nordic hosts and joint talks. Officials from the U.K., Germany, France, Poland, the EU and NATO were also reported to be in Oslo.
• Witkoff in Moscow. The envoy is reportedly expected to meet Putin, with the release of a 72-year-old American, Stephen Hubbard, held by Russia since 2022, as the main topic.
• A possible summit. Trump says he is open to a meeting with Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping focused on nuclear weapons. Nothing has been scheduled.
• The Patriot decision. Whether Hegseth approves the allied transfers will shape how well Ukraine can defend its power grid as winter nears.

The midterm elections are about two weeks away, and the AP notes that lawmakers from both parties are likely to push back on any U.S.-Russia-China deal over Ukraine.

Quick answers

Is the U.S. still sharing intelligence with Ukraine?

Trump and Rubio say yes. Zelenskyy says Ukraine missed several attack warnings in the past week, and Rubio has blamed warning failures on software issues, according to Straight Arrow News.

Who is negotiating for Ukraine in Oslo?

Zelenskyy himself. He asked Norway and Finland to organize the meeting, Store said.

What is PURL?

The Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List is an arrangement in which European partners pay for U.S.-made weapons, such as Patriot interceptors, to be sent to Ukraine.