Politics
Zelensky presses US on intelligence, weapons ahead of Oslo talks as Rubio denies withholding
October 20, 2026 at 01:29 PM · Updated 11h ago
8 reports · 6 in Arabic, 2 in English · over 13 hours
US envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Norway ahead of talks with Volodymyr Zelensky as relations between Kyiv and Washington deteriorate.
- Zelensky, in a virtual meeting with bipartisan US senators, said Ukraine received no early warnings for three Russian ballistic missile attacks last week, including Sunday.
- Rubio rejected as "scandalous" charges that the US was withholding intelligence from Kyiv, saying nothing had been denied intentionally.
- Zelensky said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not approved delivery of Patriot and AIM-9x interceptors, despite NATO countries having paid for them.
- Trump said Ukraine should get a new president and "somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine."
- Republican lawmakers Don Bacon and Brian Fitzpatrick criticized Trump's wavering Ukraine support as 'embarrassing' and 'disgraceful.'
- Zelensky accused Trump of seeking to 'convince Ukraine to capitulate' as relations between the two countries fray.
- Rubio said the US is investigating problems Ukraine had receiving missile warnings on October 13 and 18, suggesting the fault may be internal to Kyiv.
- US envoy Steve Witkoff said talks in Oslo were productive and that Ukraine presented new ideas toward a coordinated approach.
- Witkoff is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to discuss new Ukrainian proposals for ending the war.
- Rubio said Trump is angry and frustrated by the lack of progress in Russia-Ukraine negotiations after nearly two years of efforts.
- Rubio said Washington opposes Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities and Black Sea shipping because they pressure global energy markets.
- Hegseth said Washington has not changed its stance on supplying interceptor missiles to Ukraine, but American forces receive priority for them.









