Zelensky Says US Intelligence Sharing Resumes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says US intelligence sharing is now working after concerns over warnings of Russian attacks, as American envoy Steve Witkoff travels to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin.

US Envoy Arrives for Putin Talks

Witkoff arrived in Russia ahead of a meeting with Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday, following discussions with Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo, Norway.

The talks on Tuesday were described by a US official as “very productive and constructive”, with strong alignment among American, Ukrainian and European representatives on the next steps towards ending the war.

Zelensky and his European allies said Moscow must now respond to the proposals discussed in Oslo. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who participated in the meeting, said there had been “genuine progress” towards peace but warned that further patience would be necessary.

Witkoff was absent from the joint press conference following the discussions. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, joined the meeting by video link.

Putin had not publicly commented on the latest developments at the time of the report. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would listen to Witkoff’s proposals while ruling out “any political concessions”.

Zelensky Welcomes Intelligence Sharing

Following the Oslo meeting, Zelensky expressed gratitude for the resumption of US intelligence sharing, which he said was crucial for warning civilians about incoming Russian attacks.

“Speaking about early warning, which is very important for our people, our children, adults, civilians because we can hear when ballistic[s] is coming — so we are thankful to American side, now it works, it’s great,” he said.

Kyiv had previously accused Washington of withholding intelligence needed to warn Ukrainians about deadly Russian strikes. The US rejected the accusation as “scandalous”.

Zelensky’s latest comments suggest that intelligence cooperation has improved, although he did not provide details about the arrangements or explain precisely what had changed.

He also expressed hope for progress on Ukraine’s access to Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX. Ukrainian forces have reported speed restrictions affecting the system, which has been used by the military for communications and drone operations.

Last week, a bipartisan group of US senators called for an urgent investigation into the reported restrictions. Zelensky said he had also discussed the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside early-warning systems and missile interceptors.

Ukraine Reports More Russian Attacks

The diplomatic discussions have taken place amid continued Russian attacks across Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials reported that at least 10 people were killed on Tuesday, including four in Kyiv and the surrounding region, four in the eastern Donetsk region and two in the central city of Dnipro.

A further overnight attack on Wednesday killed two people near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

Zelensky said Ukraine remained prepared to negotiate an end to the war but stressed that Russian attacks continued to cost civilian lives.

“Of course, we are not losing this war, but we are losing people because Russia attacks,” he said.

The Ukrainian president also said the Oslo discussions covered security guarantees for Ukraine and proposals for an energy ceasefire.

Ukraine has sought stronger assurances against future Russian aggression as part of any potential settlement. European leaders have also insisted that they must be involved in negotiations affecting the continent’s security.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who participated in the talks, emphasised that Europe “needs to be at the table” during discussions on ending the conflict.

Trump Presses Kyiv to Reach Agreement

Relations between Kyiv and Washington have deteriorated in recent weeks, with Trump publicly questioning Zelensky’s leadership and saying Ukraine should have someone else negotiating on its behalf.

Speaking to reporters at the White House after the Oslo meeting, Trump again urged Kyiv to reach an agreement, arguing that Russia wanted to end the conflict.

He also blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for contributing to rising fuel prices in the United States, which have increased since the start of the US-led war on Iran.

US Vice-President JD Vance has separately described Ukraine as a partner whose interests sometimes differ from those of Washington. He argued that Kyiv should stop attacking Russian energy infrastructure and said Ukraine was not formally allied with the United States through NATO.

The comments have contributed to uncertainty over the future direction of American support for Ukraine.

European Leaders Seek a Unified Approach

European governments have expressed concern about what they see as inconsistent messages from Washington regarding Russia and the war.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the situation as presenting “mixed pictures and messages” and said he was trying to persuade the US government that the conflict needed to be resolved jointly.

Merz also highlighted the financial burden European countries have carried in supporting Ukraine and maintaining pressure until the war ends.

Meanwhile, questions remain over additional US-made Patriot interceptor missiles for Ukraine. Reports indicated that further transfers had not yet been approved, although Rubio said no assistance had been deliberately withheld.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and continues to control about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Witkoff’s meeting with Putin is expected to test whether the proposals discussed in Oslo can lead to further negotiations, with intelligence cooperation, security guarantees and ceasefire arrangements among the key issues facing the parties.