OSLO — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on October 20 welcomed the resumption of U.S. intelligence sharing that provides early warnings of impending Russian missile strikes, describing it as vital for the safety of civilians. Speaking to reporters after meetings in Oslo with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—who participated remotely—Zelensky emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation to bring an end to the conflict with Russia.
“We are thankful that intelligence works... early warning is very important for our people, for children, adults, civilians, because we can hear when a ballistic missile is coming,” Zelensky said. He also insisted that Ukraine must be included in any future discussions concerning its future, underscoring that Kyiv is eager for peace.
Flanked by Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to achieving peace, saying, “Ukraine wants peace more than anyone.”
In Washington, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his desire for Zelensky to reach a deal with Russia. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have been strained since Trump partially lifted sanctions on Russia to facilitate a diesel-supply agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has also criticized Zelensky, calling him a warmonger in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities.
Earlier this month, Zelensky accused the United States of withholding critical intelligence and delaying military support. On October 19, he said Ukraine received no early warning before Russia’s large-scale missile strikes damaged energy infrastructure near Kyiv. The U.S.-led diplomatic push to resolve the conflict in Europe’s deadliest since World War II has slowed in recent months amid Washington’s shifting focus toward tensions with Iran.
Zelensky also addressed concerns related to Starshield, a U.S. military satellite communications system developed by SpaceX, which Ukraine uses for battlefield coordination and strikes on Russian-occupied territories. There have been allegations Ukraine experienced reduced data transmission speeds on the system. Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, had attributed any such directive to the White House. However, the U.S. government denied making changes to intelligence sharing or limiting Starshield’s capabilities.
Following his talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Oslo on October 20, Zelensky described the discussions as “substantive” and “constructive.” He stressed the urgent need to restore full Starshield connectivity and secure ballistic missile interceptors to protect Ukrainian civilians, noting that “maybe in 48 hours we will have again a connection.”
The future of U.S. military support and cooperation amid the ongoing war remains a critical issue between Kyiv and Washington as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russian aggression.