Zelensky says US intelligence sharing works again after Oslo talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 that US intelligence sharing with Ukraine "works now", after he held talks in Oslo with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and European leaders on ending the war with Russia. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the meeting made "genuine progress" on peace proposals, which Witkoff is due to present to Russia's leadership in St Petersburg on Wednesday, October 21. The talks came days after Kyiv accused Washington of withholding intelligence on Russian missile attacks, a charge US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected.

The Oslo meeting was an attempt to repair two problems at once: a breakdown of trust between Kyiv and Washington over intelligence, and a stalled peace process. Intelligence on incoming Russian missiles and drones is vital for Ukraine's air defence, because it gives warning time to fire interceptors and move people to shelter. Kyiv's complaint that this information had been withheld, and Washington's denial, had exposed tension at a sensitive moment. Zelensky's statement that it "works now" suggests the issue has been settled for the time being, though both sides describe what happened differently.

The more important test comes in St Petersburg. The proposals agreed in Oslo, by Stubb's account, include limited steps such as protecting energy facilities and a partial ceasefire, as well as broader elements of a settlement. Russia's response will show whether there is any common ground. Lavrov's statement that Moscow will make no political concessions sets a hard starting position.

Europe's presence at the table also matters. Finland shares a long border with Russia, and both Nordic countries hosted or joined this round. The Norwegian Prime Minister's insistence that Europe must be part of any talks reflects worries in European capitals that a deal could be shaped without them.

For India, the war affects energy prices, defence supplies and diplomacy. Any step towards a ceasefire would ease pressure on oil markets and on the balance New Delhi keeps between its ties with Moscow and with Western partners.

Short-term: Attention moves to Witkoff's meeting in St Petersburg and to whether Washington delivers on Patriot interceptors and Starlink within the 48 hours Zelensky mentioned.

Long-term: A partial ceasefire or a deal to protect energy facilities could reduce attacks on power stations and refineries before winter. A wider settlement remains far off while Russia rules out political concessions.

Who is affected: Ukrainian civilians facing missile and drone attacks, Russian and Ukrainian energy infrastructure, European governments, and countries such as India that are exposed to oil price swings caused by the war.

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