Witkoff meets Putin as Zelenskyy insists Ukraine must join peace talks

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted Kyiv must be included in any negotiations. Speaking in Oslo on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Washington reaffirmed its commitment to providing Ukraine with security guarantees, but stressed any agreement is acceptable only if Ukraine is at the negotiating table. He also discussed a proposed trilateral U.S.-China-Russia meeting and said Witkoff will share feedback on NATO's Article 5 and security options. The talks occur amid U.S.-Ukraine tensions, with Trump accusing Zelenskyy of not wanting peace and Zelenskyy criticizing eased sanctions on Russia. Russia struck Ukrainian energy and civilian targets overnight, despite Trump's Oct. 11 claim of an "energy ceasefire."