Zelensky accuses the Pentagon of delaying interceptor missiles as he heads into Oslo talks with Witkoff
Ukraine's president told US senators that missiles already paid for by European allies are being held up awaiting Pete Hegseth's signature; on 20 October he meets US envoy Steve Witkoff and European officials in Norway.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the United States of deliberately slowing deliveries of air-defence interceptor missiles, deepening a public rift with President Donald Trump just as a new round of talks on ending the war begins in Norway.
Missiles “awaiting a signature”
Speaking to US senators on Monday, 19 October, Zelensky said “the Pentagon is delaying the delivery of missiles” that European countries have already paid for under the PURL (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) programme, and that the shipment was waiting for the signature of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, The Guardian reported. He added that several European countries were ready to transfer Patriot interceptors from their own stocks but were still waiting for US approval. “All of this suggests that some political decision has been made to slow down the support for us,” he said.
Zelensky also said Ukraine received no US warning before a Russian ballistic missile barrage hit power plants in Kyiv on Sunday night. Washington denies changing its intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, and the BBC reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected claims that intelligence was being withheld. A White House official told The Washington Post that the US “continues to play a constructive role” in working to end the war.
Trump, who has blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for high fuel prices, said on Monday: “I think it’s time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.”
Talks in Oslo
US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Norway ahead of Tuesday’s talks, the BBC reported. According to Reuters sources cited by The Guardian, the meetings were expected to include Zelensky, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, the “E4” (the UK, France, Germany and Poland), the EU and NATO; Jared Kushner was expected to join virtually. Al Jazeera reported that the prime ministers of Norway and Finland would attend. Witkoff is also expected to travel to Russia to meet Vladimir Putin, two sources said, though the schedules were described as tentative.
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