Witkoff heads to Oslo, plans Russia trip for peace talks

Oslo first, Moscow next. The envoy is building the itinerary before anyone has built the proposal.

White House envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling to Oslo for talks Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, a U.S. official said. The big picture: The talks will bring together Ukraine, European allies and the U.S. as they seek to develop a peace proposal to present to Russia. The Oslo talks are expected to include Zelensky, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, representatives of the E4 nations (the U.K., France, Germany and Poland) and officials from the EU and NATO. Driving the news: The U.S. official said that following Oslo, Witkoff is also planning to travel to Russia, where he hopes to meet with President Vladimir Putin and present ideas developed in close consultation with Ukraine and European partners. Trump adviser Jared Kushner has the flu and will not attend the Oslo meeting in person, but will participate virtually, the U.S. official said. The planned meetings in Oslo build on the discussions held at Witkoff's Miami-area Shell Bay club, where Zelensky committed to reviewing and advancing a series of proposals aimed at creating a pathway toward a comprehensive and durable peace agreement, the U.S. official added. Zoom in: The U.S. official said American, Ukrainian and European representatives worked together over the past week to develop the proposals. "Steve and Jared also spoke with President Zelensky on Sunday to review progress and discuss next steps," the U.S. official said. The trip is also expected to include efforts to secure the release of Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher whom the U.S. says has been wrongfully detained in Russia. What's next: The U.S. official said the discussions are focused on two parallel tracks: Securing Ukraine's future: Establishing a sovereign, secure, and prosperous future for Ukraine, including credible security guarantees, European integration, and a comprehensive postwar economic framework that addresses Ukraine's financial needs and creates opportunities for long-term growth and investment. Creating the conditions for a durable peace: Developing a comprehensive proposal to Russia that addresses the issues necessary to end the war, establishes a new and enduring security architecture between Russia and Europe, and explores opportunities for postwar economic cooperation. "President Trump has directed an intensive process to develop a comprehensive peace proposal with Ukraine and Europe, and the next step is to test whether that work can form the basis for serious negotiations with Russia," the U.S. official said. "These discussions remain fluid, and substantial work remains. President Trump's objective is clear: to end the killing, bring the war to a close, and establish the conditions for a lasting peace that benefits Ukraine, Russia, Europe, and the United States."

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