Trump Presses Kyiv on Peace Talks as Envoy Prepares Russia Trip
US President Donald Trump told reporters that Kyiv must be willing to negotiate an end to the war, arguing that Washington and Europe had spent heavily without receiving much in return. His comments followed a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo, where Zelensky said intelligence cooperation with Washington had been restored. Witkoff was expected to take proposals to Russia.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Oct. 20, Trump argued that Kyiv must seek a settlement and said US and European spending had yielded little, while suggesting Europe was weary of the conflict. Earlier that day, Zelensky met Witkoff in Oslo; they discussed proposed security assurances in a draft, and Witkoff was due to bring proposals to Russia in St. Petersburg on Oct. 21.
Zelensky stated that Washington and Kyiv had resumed intelligence collaboration. A day before Trump’s remarks, a Russian drone struck a park in Nova Vodolaha, Kharkiv region, killing six civilians, including an infant; prosecutors began examining the attack as a possible war crime. A separate strike injured a patient at Kyiv’s Strazhesko cardiology institute.
The episode could affect how Ukrainian civilians and officials view Washington’s reliability, especially as intelligence sharing resumes and ceasefire diplomacy continues. Families in affected areas may weigh reported civilian casualties against claims that combatants account for most deaths. European publics and US taxpayers could also debate the costs and benefits of continued support. If proposals advance, diplomats and affected communities may see either renewed talks or deeper uncertainty; if they stall, public trust and civilian safety could remain under strain.