WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he wanted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reach a deal with Russia to end the war, as Kyiv insisted it must be involved in any peace negotiations.
“We want Zelensky to make a deal. He can make a deal,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “He’s going to have to want to make a deal, because I don’t think his people are going to stand for it any longer.”
Trump on Ukraine War:
Ukraine has to want to settle this war.
Zelensky has to want to settle this war, and if he doesn’t, I think it’s going to be a very bad thing. https://t.co/Q9IXkWl1Tg
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 20, 2026
The remarks came as Zelensky met US envoys in Oslo and called for Ukraine to be included in any discussions involving Washington, Moscow and Beijing.
The diplomatic efforts come amid strained relations between Kyiv and Washington, renewed US intelligence sharing with Ukraine and reports of a possible meeting between Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Ukraine Insists on Seat at Negotiating Table
Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine’s participation was essential in any meeting between the leaders of the United States, Russia and China if the discussions concerned the war or Ukraine’s future.
“I don’t know what the trilateral meeting will be about between America and China, and Russia, it’s up to them,” Zelensky told reporters in Oslo.
Today, we had important talks with our American partners and with our other partners from Europe. Steve Witkoff was also here with us in Oslo, and Jared Kushner joined us online.
Ukraine immediately supported American proposal for an energy ceasefire. But Russia responded by continuing its attacks. We offered different options. We are ready not to hit sensitive parts of Russia’s energy sector if Russia stops hitting ours. Putin said no. But we’re working to find a solution.
We have some clear ideas on how to get to peace. And we are united with our European partners in this effort, and we want the Americans to take these ideas to the Russians. One of the important ideas is to move to a potential trilateral meeting of the leaders to address the issues that only the leaders can do.
Steve is going to Russia tomorrow. Let’s see what Putin has to say.
Thank you to everyone who stands with Ukraine and stands for peace.
From a joint press conference with Jonas Gahr Støre and Alex Stubb.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 20, 2026
“But of course, if there are issues about Ukraine, our future, it can be acceptable only when we are at the table of negotiations. It’s absolutely clear.”
Also Read: Trump, Xi and Putin Could Meet at Asia-Pacific Summit in China: Kremlin
The Kremlin said on Monday that a meeting involving Trump, Putin and Xi could potentially take place at an upcoming Asia-Pacific summit in China. However, it stressed that no concrete proposals or agreements on a meeting or its agenda had been discussed.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19. The United States, Russia and China are all members of the grouping.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the possibility of a meeting had been mentioned, but said no substantive proposals had been put forward.
“It goes without saying that a final settlement is impossible without the participation of someone from Kyiv who is prepared to take on the responsibility,” Peskov said when asked whether Putin believed a deal could be reached without Ukraine.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Putin wanted a summit with Trump and Xi to discuss the war and hoped to broker a peace deal. The report cited unnamed people familiar with the discussions.
Putin has repeatedly ruled out meeting Zelensky before a final peace deal is ready. He has also questioned Zelensky’s authority to sign an agreement after the expiry of his five-year presidential term under martial law.
Zelensky Meets US Envoys in Oslo
Zelensky on Tuesday welcomed the resumption of US intelligence sharing on potential Russian strikes, describing early warnings as vital to protecting civilians.
“We are thankful that intelligence works,” he told reporters in Oslo. “I’m speaking about early warning.”
His remarks followed meetings with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, who participated remotely.
Zelensky said it was important to maintain dialogue with Washington and work together on decisions needed to end the war.
Flanked by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, he said Ukraine wanted peace more than any other party.
The renewed intelligence sharing follows Zelensky’s complaint on Monday that Ukraine had received no early warning of Russian missile strikes targeting energy facilities in the capital region.
Relations between Kyiv and Washington have deteriorated in recent weeks. Trump has criticised Zelensky over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, describing him as a warmonger.
Trump recently waived new sanctions on Russia and reached a deal to secure diesel supplies from Moscow, developments that have fuelled concern in Kyiv and Europe over Washington’s approach to the conflict.
US Envoy Expected to Visit Russia
Meanwhile, Witkoff is expected to visit Russia on Wednesday after his talks with Zelensky in Oslo, according to a source cited by Russia’s state news agency TASS.
“Yes, these plans have been confirmed,” the source told TASS, without specifying whether Witkoff would meet Russian officials in St Petersburg.
Axios had earlier reported that Witkoff hoped to travel to Russia and meet Putin after holding talks with Zelensky.
US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled in recent months, while Washington has shifted much of its attention towards the war involving Iran.
