Zelenskyy visits Norway amid Trump White House tensions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Norway on Tuesday as Ukraine faces renewed tension in its relationship with US President Donald Trump and his administration.

Finland's Stubb: 'Today was a good day for peace' 

During the visit, Zelenskyy met with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Oslo, along with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff. The US president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, joined the meeting remotely.   

Store described the meeting involving the European and the US sides as "good and constructive" at a press conference. 

"US and European teams have done substantive work on key issues together with Ukraine," Store said. 

Stubb said, "Today was a good day for peace." The Finnish president said Witkoff intends to fly to St. Petersburg on Wednesday to meet with Russian leaders and discuss ideas from the Oslo meeting. 

The Oslo meeting comes as Zelenskyy has accused the US of withholding intelligence from Ukraine in advance of Russian strikes and delaying the delivery of interceptor missiles.

Zelenskyy: Early intel warnings from partners on Russian strikes resume  

Zelenskyy said he held a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in the day and said Ukraine is now receiving early warnings from its partners ahead of Russian strikes. 

"We are thankful that intelligence works now, and I'm speaking about early warning, which is very important for our people, for children, adults, civilians, because we can hear when ballistic is coming," Zelenskyy said of the Russian-launched missiles while standing next to Finnish and Norwegian leaders. 

There are also media reports that Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping could hold a meeting to possibly discuss Ukraine and other issues. 

"I don't know what the trilateral meeting will be about between America and China, and Russia, it's up to them," Zelenskyy said, but added that if Ukraine is discussed, it would be acceptable only if Ukrainians are at the negotiating table.  

Trump ramps up attacks on Zelenskyy as US midterms loom 

Earlier this month, Zelenskyy criticized a deal struck between the Trump administration and Russia to buy Russian diesel fuel. Oil and gas export revenues are vital for the Russian economy and war efforts in Ukraine. 

How Trump is helping Putin

Trump has criticized Zelenskyy and blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for high diesel prices. Prices have increased dramatically since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to US attacks.    

Zelenskyy on Tuesday said he is supportive of Trump's suggestion to stop attacks on energy sites, with Russia also doing the same in regard to Ukraine as part of an "energy ceasefire." However, Zelenskyy said Russia is unwilling to stop its attacks on Ukraine.  

At a recent European Union summit in Brussels, Zelenskyy smiled at the suggestion that he is being made a scapegoat by Trump.

The US president is looking for someone else to blame for high domestic energy costs ahead of midterm congressional elections onb November 3. If the opposition Democrats take back control of the US House and Senate, it could constrain Trump's powers in his last two years in office.

In comments to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said he wants Zelenskyy to "make a deal" with Russia and suggested Moscow has the upper hand. 

Ukraine has been fighting off a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022. In the past, Trump has blamed Zelenskyy for the war and on Tuesday again said it was up to Kyiv to end the Russian invasion. 

“We want Zelenskyy to make a deal,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We’ve given a lot to Ukraine. We’ve gotten absolutely nothing back except grief, death, tremendous monetary loss.”

Trump said he also spoke with Putin about Stephen Hubbard, a retired US teacher detained in Russia accused of acting as a mercenary for Ukrainian forces.

"I've been talking to President Putin about Mr. Hubbard. I've been talking to him at length. I've asked him to release him. Let's see what happens," Trump said. 

Edited by: Sean Sinico 

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