Zelensky Says U.S. Intelligence Sharing Is Working After Oslo Talks

Highlights

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said U.S. intelligence sharing on Russian missile attacks “works now” after talks in Oslo with President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff. The meeting brought together Ukrainian, U.S. and European representatives to discuss proposals for peace, security guarantees and an energy ceasefire. Finnish President Alexander Stubb described “genuine progress,” while warning that patience would be necessary. Russia's response is now in focus as Witkoff prepares to meet Vladimir Putin. The discussions took place amid continuing Russian attacks, strained U.S.-Ukraine relations and uncertainty over military support, including Patriot interceptors and Starlink access.

Sentiment Analysis

• The overall tone is mixed. Zelensky's statement that intelligence sharing “works now” and Stubb's description of “genuine progress” offer cautious grounds for optimism about cooperation and negotiations.
• That optimism is tempered by the lack of publicly detailed agreements and the need to wait for Russia's response. Witkoff's planned meeting with Putin is presented as an important next step, not a guarantee of progress.
• The article's account of Russian drone attacks and the deaths of at least 10 people creates a strongly grave and urgent undertone. Disputes over Patriot interceptors, Starlink restrictions and U.S. political statements also highlight uncertainty.
• Overall, the piece balances diplomatic developments with human cost and political friction. Its outlook is cautiously hopeful about coordination, but it does not suggest that a settlement is assured.

Article Text

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that U.S. intelligence sharing on Russian missile attacks “works now” following talks in Oslo with Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Donald Trump. The meeting took place amid strained relations between Kyiv and Washington, after Ukraine accused the United States of withholding important intelligence. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected that accusation as “scandalous.”

Finnish President Alexander Stubb also participated in the Oslo discussions. He said the meeting had achieved “genuine progress” on proposals intended to advance peace, but did not provide details and cautioned that patience would be needed. Zelensky and European allies said Russia must now respond to the proposals. Witkoff was expected to travel to St Petersburg on Wednesday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner took part in the Oslo meeting by video link and was expected to participate virtually in the next discussion as well.

A U.S. official described the talks as “very productive and constructive,” citing “strong alignment at the working level” among the United States, Ukraine and Europe on “the next steps.” The official confirmed that Witkoff was due to meet Putin in Russia the following day to discuss the proposals. Putin had not publicly commented on the latest developments. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier that the Kremlin would listen to Witkoff's proposals, while ruling out “any political concessions.”

The talks occurred as political tensions between Ukraine and the United States have grown. Trump has said Ukraine should get a new president and, more recently, that “somebody else” should negotiate on Ukraine's behalf. Ahead of next month's U.S. midterm elections, he has also blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for contributing to fuel prices that have risen since the beginning of the U.S.-led war on Iran. After Zelensky's Oslo news conference, Trump told reporters at the White House that Kyiv should “make a deal,” adding that Russia wanted to “get it done” and that it was “time for Ukraine to end this war.”

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory. Russian drone attacks continued on Tuesday. Ukrainian officials said at least 10 people were killed: four in Kyiv and the capital region, another four in the eastern Donetsk region, and two in the central city of Dnipro.

Speaking about intelligence sharing, Zelensky said he was “thankful that intelligence works now.” He explained that early warnings matter to civilians, including children and adults, because they can provide notice when a ballistic missile is approaching. Zelensky presented the restored intelligence cooperation as a practical measure that can help people respond to missile threats, while the continued attacks underscore the risks civilians face.

Zelensky also said he hoped for a positive result regarding Ukrainian access to SpaceX's Starlink satellite network. Ukraine's military had recently reported speed restrictions on the U.S. platform, which Kyiv uses to support drone operations against Russia. Before the Oslo meeting, Zelensky said he had held a “constructive discussion” with Rubio about early warnings, missile interceptors and Starlink. Last week, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators called for an urgent investigation into the reported Starlink speed restrictions.

Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine was “ready for negotiations” to end the war. He said Ukraine was not losing the war but was losing people because Russia continued to attack. He added that the Oslo talks covered strong security guarantees for Ukraine and proposals for an energy ceasefire. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who also took part, said Europe “needs to be at the table” in discussions about ending the conflict.

Unconfirmed reports on Tuesday said approval had not yet been given for the transfer of additional U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles. The source described these as the only effective weapon for shooting down Russian ballistic missiles. Rubio, speaking during a visit to India, said the reports that the interceptors had not arrived might be true, but stressed that the United States had not intentionally denied anything to Kyiv.

European leaders have also voiced concern about recent U.S. statements concerning Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the messages as “mixed pictures and messages” and said he was trying to persuade the U.S. government that the issue needed to be resolved jointly. He told Bloomberg TV that supporting Ukraine was a major effort for European budgets and the European Union, but said that effort would continue until the war ended.

In a Monday interview, U.S. Vice-President JD Vance described Ukraine as “certainly a partner in some ways,” while noting that the countries sometimes had divergent interests. He said he believed Ukraine should stop bombing Russian energy infrastructure. Vance also said there was no formal alliance between the United States and Ukraine, noted that Ukraine was not a member of NATO, and said the two countries would cooperate on some matters while opposing each other on others. Taken together, the statements and Oslo discussions show continued diplomatic engagement alongside unresolved disputes about security, military assistance and the terms of a possible settlement.

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