U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Russian officials in St. Petersburg on Wednesday to discuss European and U.S. proposals for ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said.

The meeting could potentially pave the way for talks between the leaders of the countries involved, Støre told a press conference in Oslo on Tuesday after discussions with Witkoff, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

“This will possibly pave the way for a meeting at leaders’ level,” Støre said.

The Oslo talks took place amid intensifying Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington over the future of U.S. military and diplomatic support for Ukraine.

Zelensky said Ukraine and its European partners had developed proposals they wanted Washington to present to Moscow, including arrangements for a potential meeting involving the leaders.

“We have some clear ideas on how to get to peace. And we are united with our European partners in this effort, and we want the Americans to take these ideas to the Russians,” Zelensky said.

He added that one key objective was to move towards a trilateral meeting of leaders to address issues that could not be resolved at lower levels.

Zelensky also said Witkoff would present proposals for post-war security guarantees modelled on Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which commits alliance members to regard an armed attack against one member as an attack against them all.

The proposals were discussed during the Oslo meetings, according to the Ukrainian president.

Stubb said the discussions had identified key elements concerning both security and the economy, adding that European, Ukrainian and U.S. officials had developed proposals.

Despite what he described as considerable public noise surrounding the negotiations, Stubb said progress was being made at the technical level.

Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, also joined the Oslo discussions remotely. Officials were expected to continue consultations with national security advisers from European countries.

The diplomatic initiative comes as relations between Ukraine and the United States have deteriorated over concerns about military assistance and Washington’s approach to Moscow.

Kyiv has expressed concern that the United States could be withholding deliveries of Patriot air-defence missiles financed by Ukraine’s allies, along with other support, to pressure the Ukrainian government.

Trump has publicly criticised Zelensky, accusing him of not wanting to end the war, while declining to condemn Russia over its escalating attacks on Ukraine.

Zelensky, in turn, warned in an interview with NBC News that siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin would be a “historic mistake.”

The relationship has also been strained by an unexpected announcement on Oct. 9 concerning a potential Russian diesel supply arrangement with the United States, according to the reports cited in the supplied material.

More than a year and a half of U.S.-led efforts to secure a peace agreement have failed to produce a breakthrough, with Moscow continuing to demand that Ukraine surrender territory in the eastern Donbas region.

Russian forces have been unable to capture the entire strategically important region despite years of fighting.

Putin has repeatedly avoided a meeting with Zelensky, while reports have suggested that the Kremlin wants a meeting with Trump in China next month to discuss a potential agreement without Ukraine directly involved.

A meeting between Witkoff and Putin has also been reported as a possibility during the U.S. envoy’s visit to Russia. The New York Times previously reported that the discussions could include the case of Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old American citizen detained by Russian forces in 2022 after reportedly serving with a Ukrainian territorial defence unit in the Kharkiv region.

Witkoff did not attend the final press conference in Oslo. Asked about his absence, Støre said the event was intended for political leaders.

The upcoming talks in St. Petersburg are expected to test whether the latest proposals can narrow differences between Moscow and Kyiv, particularly over territorial demands and the security arrangements Ukraine would receive after any ceasefire. (ILKHA)