Rubio rejects claims US is withholding intelligence from Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will also participate, after Zelensky asked them to organize talks with the United States and Ukraine’s allies in Europe.
The gathering follows diplomatic efforts that have previously taken place in several countries, Støre said in a statement reported by CNBC. Støre said Norway and Finland were pleased to continue the work and that “The aim is to put diplomatic efforts on a more constructive path.” BBC News reported that Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, will take part in the meeting by video link.
Last week, Zelensky said Ukraine’s access to Starshield had been restricted. Starshield is a military version of the Starlink communications service, a SpaceX system that Elon Musk owns and that is integral to Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Musk has said any restrictions came from the U.S. government. Trump and Rubio both denied imposing restrictions, leaving the accounts in conflict. Separately, U.S. officials denied that the United States is withholding intelligence from Ukraine. Rubio characterized such accusations as “scandalous.” Serhii Beskrestnov, identified as a Ukrainian military adviser, told the BBC that the absence of U.S. intelligence — including information about ballistic missile launches — meant people were dying in Ukraine. “It looks very strange,” Beskrestnov said, adding that Ukraine sometimes received information before an attack but did not receive it at other times.
The planned meeting comes as Trump has leveled increased criticism at Zelensky. Trump also waived U.S. sanctions on Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022. Trump, speaking to reporters Monday outside the White House, said, “Zelensky doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” and said Zelensky should have settled the war a long time ago. Trump said he thought somebody else should negotiate on behalf of Ukraine. Trump also said that if Zelensky had listened to him, Zelensky could have made a better deal and had “a million people living on his side.” Trump said he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping — not Zelensky — to figure out how to end the war.