AP
Kyiv
Russia unleashed another missile and drone blitz of civilian areas in Ukraine, killing at least nine people, officials said Tuesday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scrambled to ensure more American and European help during his visit to Norway.
US envoy Steve Witkoff, who along with Jared Kushner has tried without success to steer Russia and Ukraine toward a settlement and end their war, was also in Oslo. Kushner, who is US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, was due to attend the meeting with Zelenskyy by videoconference.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb were also scheduled to meet with Zelenskyy in Norway’s capital.
“We are maintaining all contacts that can help bring peace,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X after he arrived in Oslo.
He said that officials gathered in Norway would discuss strengthening Ukraine’s air defences and joint production of weapons.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow hopes that a meeting in Russia with the US envoys can be organised soon, though he didn’t give any indication about where or when.
He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meetings with Trump’s envoys – potentially as early as Wednesday – would be “very important.”
“We highly appreciate the mediation efforts of the American negotiators,” Peskov said.
