In brief
A hug between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky played out against a backdrop of deepening mistrust. Zelensky’s video praised partners but hinted that US support had faltered. Trump’s remarks on Ukrainian leadership and sanctions on Russia, coupled with reports of limited intelligence sharing and Starlink throttling, further strain relations. Despite optimism voiced by Norwegian officials, the historic rift between Kyiv and the US appears to deepen. Analysts warn that mistrust rooted in past controversies may keep the two leaders at odds as talks in Oslo shrink to diplomatic gestures rather than substantive change.
When US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff greeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a hug before the Oslo meeting, it was a brief moment of warmth that quickly faded under a cloud of mistrust.
Zelensky posted the encounter on social media, adding that "Ukraine is working for peace. I thank our partners for their support!" Yet his optimism struggled to hide growing concerns about US policy.
Trump has repeatedly singled out Zelensky in unflattering terms, calling him a poor adviser for Washington and questioning his grasp of strategy during a visit to Moscow last month. Such attacks are typical of the former president’s unpredictable approach to diplomacy.
The rift widened during the past ten days, with Trump blaming Ukraine for a proposed diesel‑fuel deal and accusing the country of manipulating the narrative on Russian aggression. In contrast, Zelensky has been vocal about perceived slowing support from Washington, citing gaps in intelligence sharing and reduced delivery of Patriot interceptors.
On Friday Trump announced a waiver of sanctions on Russia that were due to take effect, a move he said would aid his peace broker role. The decision has angered Kyiv officials, who view it as a direct signal of U.S. allegiance to Moscow.
Reports of limited Starlink bandwidth and political pressure on Ukraine’s military satellite use have added to the strain, even as the Atlantic Council notes that the source of these constraints remains unclear.
History has also played its part: since the 2019 Biden‑Zelensky phone call and the 2020 impeachment of Trump over withheld aid to Ukraine, a pattern of mistrust has persisted. Zelensky’s refusal to investigate Trump‑related allegations has been echoed in diplomatic circles.
After Oslo, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the talks helped "straighten out a few things," but comments from Zelensky and U.S. officials indicate that the fundamental divide remains unresolved, leaving the partnership at a precarious junction.
