Zelensky Says US Missile Warnings 'Work Now' After Oslo Talks, Witkoff Due in Russia Wednesday

Since Trump said on Oct. 19 that it was "time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine," the Oslo meeting has produced one concrete result and one open question. Zelensky says US early warning on Russian ballistic missiles is working again. Whether Russia will engage with the proposals drawn up in Oslo is unanswered.

Missile warnings restored, Zelensky says

Zelensky spoke after meeting Steve Witkoff on Tuesday, Oct. 20. "We are thankful to the American side, now it works, it's great," he said of the warnings. He said they matter because Ukrainians can hear when ballistic missiles are coming.

For at least a week, Zelensky had said Kyiv was not getting those warnings before strikes on the capital. A Zelensky adviser told the BBC that Ukrainians were dying because the US was restricting intelligence sharing.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected that charge as "scandalous." The Washington Post reported that the warnings resumed after a call between Zelensky and Rubio. Washington has not publicly laid out what changed.

Zelensky also said he hopes for a good result on SpaceX's Starlink access. Ukraine's military reported speed restrictions on the platform in recent days. Kyiv uses it to run drone strikes on Russia.

Oslo outcome: "genuine progress," no details

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who took part alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, said "genuine progress" was made on proposals for peace. He gave no details and warned that patience would be needed.

Jared Kushner joined by video. A US official said he has the flu. Witkoff did not attend the joint press conference.

A US official said earlier that the work covers two tracks. One is Ukraine's future: sovereignty, security guarantees, European integration and a postwar economic framework. The other is a possible framework for negotiations with Russia, including future security arrangements between Russia and Europe.

The official said substantial work remains before it is clear whether the proposals can support serious negotiations with Moscow.

Zelensky and his European allies said it is now up to Russia to respond when Witkoff arrives in St. Petersburg on Wednesday.

Moscow's position

Putin has not commented publicly on the Oslo talks. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Kremlin would listen to what Witkoff offers but ruled out "any political concessions."

The Kremlin's stated demands, per CNN's analysis, include Ukraine giving up the Donbas without further fighting. Putin has also long floated Ukrainian demilitarization, a pledge never to join NATO and a change of leadership in Kyiv.

Rubio gave a rare public account of why Kyiv resists the Donbas demand. In an interview with Breitbart News, he said Russia controls all but 11% of Donetsk region. Ukraine calls what remains its last defensible line, and Rubio said military strategists agree: "From there, it's just a straight shot into Kyiv."

Moscow controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory overall.

Washington's pressure on Kyiv

Trump spoke to reporters after Zelensky's Oslo press conference. He again said he wants Kyiv to "make a deal." He said Russia would like to "get it done" and that it is "time for Ukraine to end this war." On Monday he said: "We've given a lot to Ukraine. They've given nothing to us."

Trump has pressed Ukraine to stop long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries to ease global diesel prices ahead of next month's midterm elections, according to the Irish Times. Kyiv accuses Washington of using military assistance and access to technology to force a halt to those strikes.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas took the sharpest line. She told the European Parliament that "American negotiators have been trying to push Ukraine into surrender for almost two years." She said Ukraine has not surrendered on Putin's terms because Europe has supported it. She argued Europe must be at the table because sanctions decisions are European decisions.

Kallas spoke after Trump signed a waiver blocking enforcement of the Lindsey Graham Russia sanctions bill. The White House has not publicly responded to her remarks.

The fighting continues

Russian drone attacks went on Tuesday. Ukrainian officials said at least 10 people were killed: four in Kyiv and its region, four in Donetsk region and two in Dnipro.

Hubbard and next steps

Witkoff is also expected to press for the release of Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher in his 70s. Russian forces captured him in Izyum in April 2022. He was sentenced to almost seven years on charges of fighting for Ukraine, which his lawyer denies. The US deemed him wrongfully detained in 2025.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia and the US are "in contact" over detained citizens. "Dialogue is ongoing through intelligence channels," he said. Past exchanges have often involved releasing convicted Russians.

Whether Putin agrees to meet Witkoff in St. Petersburg is the next test. Lavrov's "no concessions" line leaves little room before it begins.