US special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo, as tensions rise between the Ukrainian president and US President Donald Trump.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre noted that Zelensky requested Oslo and nearby Finland to arrange the gathering with American and European partners during a pivotal moment for Ukraine.

Before the session, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed as scandalous and outrageous suggestions that Ukrainians were perishing due to the US holding back intelligence from Kyiv.

He responded after Zelensky's military technical adviser, Serhii Flash Beskrestnov, informed the BBC that inconsistent US alerts were resulting in lost lives.

This situation appears quite odd, Beskrestnov observed, noting that sometimes the data arrives ahead of strikes while at other times it does not.

Ties between Kyiv and Washington have worsened lately, with Trump indicating Ukraine needs a fresh leader and recently proposing someone else handle negotiations for the country.

Zelensky began by conferring with the Norwegian prime minister and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, before his in-person discussions with Witkoff, joined remotely by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Støre explained the Oslo discussions aim to guide relations onto a more productive track, telling reporters they seek a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with enduring and fair peace.

The Ukrainian leader mentioned a constructive exchange with Rubio on US early warnings, missile interceptors, and SpaceX Starlink services.

Last week a cross-party group of US senators urged a swift probe into Starlink disruptions in Ukraine, while unconfirmed reports indicated additional Patriot interceptors had not been cleared for transfer.

The US secretary of state, visiting India, told reporters it might be accurate that Patriot missiles had not reached Ukraine yet, though nothing was deliberately withheld from Kyiv.

Zelensky planned to join his Norwegian and Finnish counterparts for a news conference following the talks, though Witkoff was not slated to participate, per Oslo officials.

It remains unclear if Witkoff will proceed to Russia afterward, yet the Kremlin spokesman expressed hope for arranging a session with the US envoy soon, noting appreciation for American mediation efforts.

Earlier this month Russia's Vladimir Putin spoke with Trump by phone, after which the US president revealed Moscow would supply over 300,000 tons of diesel to the US and other markets, lifting sanctions on those exports.

Trump's arrangement with the Russian leader aligned with Witkoff and Kushner's prior talks with Ukrainian officials in Miami, prompting Zelensky to label it a birthday gift for Putin.

Ahead of next month's US midterm elections, Trump has attributed Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil sites to fuel prices hitting record levels at pumps since the start of the US-led conflict involving Iran.

European leaders have voiced worries over recent US comments regarding Russia, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz citing mixed signals on the war and efforts to persuade the American administration that joint resolution is essential.

He noted the US has not funded Ukraine's defense since early 2025, leaving Europe and others to bear the load.

This represents a major strain on budgets across the European Union, yet we continue these efforts until the conflict concludes, the German leader stated to Bloomberg TV.

When queried on Ukraine's status as a US ally, Vice-President JD Vance remarked in a broadcast interview that Kyiv serves as a partner in certain respects but interests diverge at times, such as urging an end to attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

We lack a formal alliance with Ukraine as far as I know, he added, noting they are not in NATO and should not join, though cooperation will occur on select matters while differences persist on others.