Ukraine, US to hold Norway peace talks amid rising Zelensky, Trump tension

President Volodymyr Zelensky, US envoy Steve Witkoff and the leaders of Norway and Finland are due to meet in Oslo2-MIN READ2-MIN0Published: 5:44pm, 20 Oct 2026Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is travelling to Norway for new peace talks as US pressure mounts for concessions from Kyiv to reach a deal with Russia.US envoy Steve Witkoff is expected in Oslo to take part in the talks on Tuesday with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, according to a government statement in Norway.Another US envoy, Jared Kushner, will take part online in the talks, the statement said.The meeting is being held amid escalating tensions between Zelensky and Donald Trump.01:43Shocking video shows Russian drone stalking Ukrainian vegetable vendorThe American president reiterated criticism of the Ukrainian leader on Monday after officials in Kyiv said they suspect the US is intermittently restricting intelligence sharing despite denials from Washington, allowing Russian missiles to strike Ukraine without warning.Zelensky “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” and should have settled the war a long time ago, Trump told reporters.“We’ve given a lot to Ukraine. They’ve given us nothing.”Relations between Trump and Zelensky have soured since the US announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin this month for diesel supplies to American and global markets as the White House strives to cut surging fuel prices ahead of November 3 midterm elections.