Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Oslo on October 20 that crucial US early-warning intelligence on Russian ballistic missiles has been restored, following talks with US envoys that Kyiv hopes will ease a rift with Washington. The development matters because US intelligence sharing with Ukraine had been a point of tension between the two governments.
According to Euronews, Zelenskyy confirmed the restoration of the early-warning intelligence and said Washington had reaffirmed its commitment to strong security guarantees for Ukraine after the war. According to NPR World, Zelenskyy linked the change to talks with his American counterparts, including a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Zelenskyy said that after meeting US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who took part remotely, it was important to keep the conversation going and work together to end the war. According to the Straits Times, he also said on October 19 that Ukraine received no early warning of powerful Russian missile strikes that targeted energy facilities in the capital region.
The United States has denied making any changes to intelligence sharing, according to the Straits Times. Zelenskyy had earlier accused Washington of deliberately withholding vital intelligence, according to the same outlet. No US official statement confirming the restoration has been reported.
Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured since Trump partially lifted sanctions to strike a diesel-supply deal with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and Trump criticised Zelenskyy over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. US-led diplomacy to end the war has stalled in recent months as Washington shifted focus towards the war with Iran, according to the Straits Times. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas accused the US of pressuring Ukraine to capitulate on terms exclusively favourable to Putin, according to Euronews.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Witkoff was due to travel to St Petersburg to meet Russian leadership and share proposals worked on by European and American colleagues, according to the Straits Times. Euronews reports that Witkoff travels to St Petersburg today, while the Straits Times quotes Store saying he would fly tomorrow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has expressed hope for a leaders-level meeting, according to the Straits Times, but no fuller Russian response to the Oslo proposals has been reported.
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb said substantial progress had been made "under the radar" and that the peace process was now "back on track", according to Euronews. Euronews notes it remains to be seen whether Moscow shares that assessment.
Other points remain unclear. Ukraine reported a reduction in Starshield satellite speeds, and Elon Musk said the order could only have come from the White House, while Trump denied ordering it, according to the Straits Times. Zelenskyy said a connection could return "maybe in 48 hours", but no later confirmation has been reported. Euronews also reports that Witkoff is expected to push for the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard, accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, though no response from Moscow or Washington on this has been reported.
Trump has said he is ready to meet Putin and Xi Jinping in China in November, and Zelenskyy insists Kyiv must be at any table discussing Ukraine. Most of the key details on the intelligence restoration rely on Zelenskyy’s account, and the NPR World report was available only as a headline and short excerpt.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.