2026-10-20 19:35:53Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

The Norwegian capital has become the center of renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky has landed in Oslo for a series of high-level meetings with US envoys and Nordic leaders, as international pressure on Kiev to accept a peace deal grows.

Accompanied by his team, the Ukrainian head of state confirmed the holding of bilateral and multilateral talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, while US President Trump's advisor, Jared Kushner, connected remotely.

"We are maintaining all contacts that can help achieve peace. We will also discuss strengthening our air defense and joint production," declared Zelensky, who during the visit was also received in audience by King Haakon VIII of Norway and held meetings in the local parliament (Storting).

Regarding the content of the talks, international media, including the New York Times, report that Washington is trying to convince Kiev to accept territorial concessions in Donbas in exchange for economic support packages. However, to assuage the concerns of the Ukrainian leadership, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed to Zelensky in a 45-minute phone call assurances that the US does not intend to harm Ukraine's position. After Oslo, envoy Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow to present to President Vladimir Putin the ideas developed in cooperation with European partners.

This new negotiating line has provoked immediate reactions in Brussels and Berlin. The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, during her speech to the European Parliament, stressed that the European Union will not allow a capitulation on Moscow’s terms, emphasizing that “we must be extremely clear that we also have demands on Moscow and we will not give anything for free, because the goal is a lasting and just peace.” The same concern was raised by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who warned that “Europe is underestimating the threat from Russia” and that Putin’s goals go beyond the territory of Ukraine, aiming to destabilize the entire continent.

For its part, official Moscow has maintained a reserved stance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that for Russia it is important that "a legitimate representative of the Ukrainian government" leads the talks and is "ready to take responsibility and make the necessary decisions to end this war."

Despite diplomatic moves behind the scenes, the situation on the ground remains critical. The Russian military has continued intensive drone and missile attacks on logistics hubs, port terminals in Odessa and residential areas. The latest strikes in the Kiev and Zaporizhzhia regions have resulted in at least four fatalities and dozens of injuries, while production warehouses, transport hubs and cargo ships in the Rhine port have been severely damaged.


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