Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed missile interceptors and intelligence with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Oct. 20 amid tensions over American military support for Kyiv.
Reuters reported that Kyiv accused Washington of withholding missile warnings and delaying delivery of air defenses paid for by European allies. Reuters also reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cited the need to maintain American stockpiles.
Rubio denied that U.S. policy had changed and said there was no deliberate political directive to harm Ukraine. He said a shipment of interceptors financed by European countries may not have reached Ukraine.
Ukraine’s presidential office said Zelenskyy’s call with Rubio covered Starlink, ballistic missile interceptors and intelligence. Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s system for warning of Russian ballistic missile attacks was working again.
Zelenskyy also met Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Oslo. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff attended discussions in person, while U.S. envoy Jared Kushner joined remotely. Norway said Ukraine had requested the Americans’ participation. Ukraine’s presidential office also listed advisers from the European Union, NATO, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy among participants in wider discussions.
The Oslo meetings addressed security guarantees, sanctions against Russia, reconstruction and European security, Ukraine’s presidential office said. It said the U.S. side agreed that guarantees for Ukraine should be strong. Stubb said participants also considered air defense, energy and a partial ceasefire.
Zelenskyy raised the possibility of a later meeting among the leaders of Ukraine, Russia and the United States. The talks produced no announced ceasefire agreement. On Oct. 12, Zelenskyy had said Ukraine was prepared to stop strikes on Russian energy facilities if Russia halted attacks on Ukraine’s energy system.
Støre said Witkoff’s planned trip to St. Petersburg on Oct. 21 would bring Russian leaders ideas raised in Oslo and proposals developed by U.S. and European officials working with Ukraine.
