Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared his readiness to negotiate an end to the war with Russia, calling for trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the United States and Moscow as diplomatic efforts intensify.
Zelenskyy made the remarks during a news conference in Oslo after meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, where he also expressed appreciation for American intelligence support to help Ukraine anticipate Russian strikes.
The Ukrainian leader said the intelligence arrangements for early warnings of Russian attacks were now working, adding that he was thankful to the United States.
His comments come amid growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington over intelligence sharing and the direction of efforts to end the conflict.
US President Donald Trump, speaking from the White House, said it was time for Ukraine to bring the war to an end.
The statement underscores Washington’s push for a diplomatic resolution as the conflict continues, although disagreements remain over the terms of a potential settlement and the roles of Ukraine, Russia and its international partners.
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said he was prepared for negotiations and called for direct trilateral engagement involving the three countries.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected accusations that Ukrainians were dying because Washington was withholding intelligence from Kyiv.
The dispute follows earlier concerns over whether restrictions on intelligence sharing could weaken Ukraine’s ability to anticipate Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy’s latest remarks that the early-warning system was working appeared to signal appreciation for the support currently available, even as questions over the broader US-Ukraine relationship remain.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Witkoff would meet Russian leaders the following day to exchange ideas.
The planned meeting comes as diplomatic contacts continue against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between Zelenskyy and Trump.
Whether the discussions will produce progress towards a negotiated settlement remains uncertain, with major questions surrounding the terms of any agreement and the security arrangements that would follow.
For now, Zelenskyy’s call for trilateral talks and Washington’s renewed pressure to end the conflict point to an intensified diplomatic push, even as the parties continue to differ over how peace should be achieved.
