In brief
Ukraine’s war shows little sign of ending after two‑day Oslo talks that fell flat. President Vladimir Putin has made no move to co‑ordinate with Zelensky, preferring a technical summit in Abu Dhabi. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s participation and Trump’s recent easing of sanctions left Russia feeling less pressured. Reuters reported that Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov dismissed the Oslo discussions as largely useless. The stalled diplomacy underscores the impasse that still threatens lasting peace.
Two days of diplomacy in Oslo and St Petersburg have not moved the clock on the Ukraine war, leaving the conflict still mired in stalemate.
In Oslo, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described the talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and European officials as “good and constructive.” Yet, the idea of a trilateral summit with President Putin has stalled, with Russian leadership refusing to share a table with Zelensky unless it is held in Moscow.
The Kremlin has suggested that it might resume technical talks in Abu Dhabi next month, but only at a low‑level, technical capacity rather than with the leaders themselves.
Witkoff himself, in a post on X, admitted that “there is still important work to do,” though he underscored that President Trump “remains committed to seeing this war end.”
Reuter’s report on Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov reveals a lack of enthusiasm: “In terms of resolving the Ukraine crisis, there wasn’t much there that was useful,” he said. When asked to comment on the prospects for peace, he replied, “I don’t know how close we’re getting, but things are moving in that direction,” a statement that echoes the vague optimism surrounding the talks.
Putin’s position is clear. He appears unhurried by the pressures presented by Ukraine’s strained air defences and an approaching winter, and views the cold months as a potential advantage to press Ukraine against its limits.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s recent lifting of some sanctions on Moscow and his willingness to purchase Russian diesel have eased pressure on the Kremlin, a move that many in Russia perceive as unwinding Western leverage. Trump’s actions, the Kremlin states, “are something that can be done for peace, which is on our terms.”
In this unfolding diplomatic landscape, there is speculation that a three‑way meeting involving Putin, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could take place in the next APEC summit, potentially echoing the historic “New Yalta” conversation. Whether such a meeting will translate into concrete progress remains uncertain, but it signals the continued drive for a summit that might finally place the Kremlin at the centre of global power talks.
As Russia, Ukraine and the United States navigate this crowded diplomatic terrain, the world watches to see whether the promise electrified by Oslo materialises into a break from conflict.
