Zelensky calls for participation in Putin-Xi-Trump meetings

Trump had shown interest in talking to the presidents of Russia and China about Ukraine. Following a meeting with European partners and US Special Envoy Witkoff in Oslo, President Zelensky called for Kiev’s participation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for his country to participate in a possible summit of US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and China’s head of state Xi Jinping. Talks on the future of Ukraine are “only acceptable if we sit at the negotiating table,” Zelensky said during a visit to the Norwegian capital Oslo. That is "absolutely clear". According to a US newspaper report, Putin is seeking a meeting with Trump and Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China on November 18-19. Trump had been open on Monday for such a tripartite summit: "I would do it," said the US President in front of journalists in Washington. The meeting has not yet been agreed. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has warned that such a tripartite meeting would only “encourage Putin to continue this war.” Meeting with US Special Envoy Witkoff in Oslo Zelenskyi had now travelled to Oslo to discuss with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on diplomatic ways out of the Ukraine war and support for the US. First, he wanted to talk to the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and the Finnish President Alexander Stubb, then individually with Witkoff, finally in a round of four. According to Norwegian media, it also included US negotiators and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner as well as representatives of several European countries, including Germany, as well as the EU and NATO. The Norwegian capital is thus a new arena in the so far unsuccessful peace efforts for Ukraine, which has been overrun by Russia with a war of aggression for four and a half years. The aim of the meeting mediated by Norway and Finland was above all to improve tense relations with the US and to find a way back to diplomacy. “Conversations necessary after the last few weeks” At the talks in Oslo, the parties had now discussed security guarantees for Ukraine, territorial issues, sanctions and European security after the war. Store said at a press conference in Oslo that it had had good and constructive discussions that were necessary after the events of last week. In the afternoon, they had created a base on which they could now continue to work. Stubb said the day had brought progress in the right direction. Zelensky described the talks with Witkoff as important. We must continue to work together at all levels on the decisions needed to end the war. Witkoff flies on to Russia Witkoff will now travel on to Russia. "Steve Witkoff will fly to Saint Petersburg tomorrow to hold talks with the Russian leadership," Store said. This should include 'the proposals that European and American colleagues have drawn up'. However, shortly after the talks in Oslo, US President Donald Trump repeatedly claimed that Russia was ready to end the war and called on Zelensky to make a “deal”. He should end the war, otherwise it would end badly. In addition, Trump again claimed that the US had “given a lot” to Ukraine, but “absolutely got nothing back”. In his reproaches against Ukraine, Trump repeatedly ignores the fact that Russia alone can end his war of aggression. Moreover, Putin has so far refused any agreement to a peace or ceasefire and ignored or rejected any offer by Ukraine and its partners. Zelensky: Ukraine again receives US intelligence In Oslo in the evening, Zelensky said at a press conference after talks with Witkoff that the US would again share intelligence about Russian attacks with Ukraine. “We are grateful that the intelligence work is working,” Zelensky said. “I’m talking about early warnings, which is very important for our population, children, adults, civilians.” The early warnings were resumed after talks with US government officials, including a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Marco Rubio. Ukraine will not lose the war against Russia, Zelensky said. Kiev, however, laments the loss of life and is determined to find ways to peace. Relations between Kiev and Washington had deteriorated sharply in recent weeks. According to Zelensky, the US had withheld important intelligence and delayed the delivery of air defense weapons. He also complained of a throttling of the satellite communications services Starlink and Starshield, which play an important role in the coordination of the Ukrainian army, the use of drones and their defense. Trump had also suspended planned sanctions against Russia and instead concluded an agreement with Moscow on the supply of diesel fuel. With information from Jana Sinram, ARD Stockholm