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International Relations20 Oct 2026 · about 6 min

President Stubb to meet Zelensky in Norway – Ukraine talks taking place in Oslo today

The brief

Oslo is hosting talks focused on Ukraine at a critical diplomatic moment. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is organizing the meetings with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Their meeting matters because it brings Ukraine’s president together with leaders from two European countries. The leaders will discuss Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and Europe’s wider security situation. Støre said Zelenskyi asked Norway and Finland to arrange the meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic work. Afterward, the leaders are expected to hold a news conference. Zelenskyi’s Oslo programme also includes a meeting with King Haakon at the palace. He will meet Norway’s parliamentary speaker and parliamentary leadership. Separately, Stubb will meet United States special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Jared Kushner joins remotely.

01

What is happening in Oslo, and which national leaders are taking part?

Oslo is hosting talks focused on Ukraine at a critical diplomatic moment. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is organizing the meetings with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Their meeting matters because it brings Ukraine’s president together with leaders from two European countries.

The leaders will discuss Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and Europe’s wider security situation. Støre said Zelenskyi asked Norway and Finland to arrange the meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic work. Afterward, the leaders are expected to hold a news conference.

Zelenskyi’s Oslo programme also includes a meeting with King Haakon at the palace. He will meet Norway’s parliamentary speaker and parliamentary leadership. Separately, Stubb will meet United States special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Jared Kushner joins remotely.

02

What is a special envoy, and why are Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner involved in these talks?

A special envoy is a person appointed to represent a government in a particular diplomatic task. The role usually focuses on sensitive negotiations that require direct contact with several sides. It can allow a government to pursue talks through a dedicated representative rather than through routine diplomatic channels.

The article identifies Steve Witkoff as United States President Donald Trump’s special envoy. It says Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have led the United States negotiations. Witkoff is travelling to Norway, while Kushner will join the meeting by remote connection.

Their involvement matters because the meeting is reportedly intended to prepare a peace proposal for Russia. The article also says European Union and NATO representatives may attend. Witkoff is expected to continue the effort after Oslo by travelling to Russia and hoping to meet President Vladimir Putin.

03

How many countries and international organizations are directly represented or involved in the diplomatic effort described in the article?

Counting the countries named as participants, negotiators, or the intended destination gives five: Finland, Norway, Ukraine, the United States and Russia. Finland and Norway organize the Oslo meeting with Ukraine. The United States is represented through Witkoff and Kushner. Russia is the intended recipient of the proposed peace plan and Witkoff’s next destination.

The article also names two international organizations: the European Union and NATO. It says representatives from both are involved in the meeting. Thus, the diplomatic effort described includes five countries and two international organizations.

This is a count of the actors mentioned in the article, not a complete list of every country supporting Ukraine. The article does not identify individual EU or NATO representatives. It also does not say that Russia will attend the Oslo meeting; it says Witkoff hopes to take the proposal there afterward.

04

What are the leaders trying to discuss or produce: support for Ukraine, a peace proposal, or both?

The meeting combines immediate discussion with a possible diplomatic outcome. Stubb, Støre and Zelenskyi will discuss Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine and the general security situation in Europe. Those talks concern Ukraine directly, but they also address the wider regional consequences of the conflict.

At the same time, the article reports that the meeting’s goal is to prepare a peace proposal for presentation to Russia. Witkoff and Kushner have led United States negotiations, and EU and NATO representatives are also expected to be involved. This connects the Oslo discussions with a broader diplomatic process.

So the answer is both, but the article does not describe a specific support package or list concrete military or financial measures. It presents Oslo as a meeting about Ukraine’s situation and European security, with a possible peace proposal as a practical next step.

05

What is the next stated step after the Oslo meeting, and why would Witkoff want to take the proposal to Russia?

The next stated step is Steve Witkoff’s planned journey to Russia after the Oslo visit. According to the article, he hopes to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin there. This would move the diplomatic effort from preparation and coordination in Oslo toward direct contact with Russia.

The reason is straightforward: Axios reported that the meeting’s goal is to create a peace proposal to present to Russia. Witkoff and Jared Kushner have led the United States negotiations, so Witkoff would carry the American diplomatic effort into the next stage. The article does not give the proposal’s contents.

The planned visit remains conditional in the wording provided. Witkoff intends to travel to Russia and hopes for a meeting with Putin. The article therefore describes a possible next step, not a confirmed agreement, Putin meeting or peace settlement.

06

What roles do the European Union and NATO play in Ukraine’s security, and how are those roles different?

The article confirms that representatives of the European Union and NATO are involved in the meeting, but it does not specify their assignments. Their presence signals that Ukraine’s security is being discussed at both political and defence levels. This distinction helps explain why both organizations may be part of the diplomatic effort.

In general, the EU supports Ukraine mainly through political decisions, economic assistance, sanctions and civilian or institutional measures. NATO is a military alliance focused on defence cooperation, deterrence and coordination among its members. NATO’s role is therefore primarily defence-related, while the EU’s is broader and includes political and economic tools.

Those general roles come from established background knowledge, not details in this article. The article itself only states that EU and NATO representatives are involved. It does not identify them, describe their proposals, or say that either organization has accepted a specific peace plan.

07

Why does Russia’s war against Ukraine affect the wider security of Europe rather than only Ukraine?

Russia’s war affects wider European security because the conflict changes the security environment beyond Ukraine’s borders. It raises concerns about regional stability, military risks and the future of Europe’s security arrangements. That is why leaders from Finland and Norway are meeting with Ukraine’s president, rather than treating the war as only a national issue.

The article gives a direct example: Stubb, Støre and Zelenskyi will discuss both Russia’s illegal war and Europe’s general security situation. Representatives of the EU and NATO are also expected to take part. Their involvement shows that the diplomatic effort has a broader European dimension.

The wider consequences described here are established security context; the article does not list particular incidents outside Ukraine. It does show the immediate implication: European leaders are coordinating diplomacy, and the United States is helping prepare a proposal for Russia. The conflict therefore shapes Europe’s discussions about peace and security.

This brief was written by AI from the original reporting and checked by other models. Names, figures and quotes come from the source; read it for full context.

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