Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Washington for the recovery of these intelligence services, crucial for detecting ballistic missile launches and anticipating possible bombings. During a press conference in Oslo, after meeting with U.S. negotiators, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is not losing the war, although he acknowledged that lives are being lost. The president reiterated his commitment to finding a path to peace. Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin. Since last week, Kyiv had denounced the lack of alerts about Russian missiles, restrictions on the Starshield satellite links from SpaceX used to guide Ukrainian drones, and delays in the delivery of air defense systems funded by European allies.
The situation is particularly concerning to Ukrainian authorities, as their anti-aircraft defenses are weakened in the face of an especially harsh winter. While relations between Washington and Kyiv are facing difficulties, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities, with a particular focus on power plants and fuel infrastructure. In this scenario, several European countries have reinforced their support for Zelenskyy and are trying to prevent a definitive rupture between the two governments. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb participated in the talks held in Oslo. Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump, intervened remotely due to the flu. In parallel, NATO will enhance its surveillance in the Black Sea with patrol aircraft, radars, and drones. This measure is in response to the increase in attacks against merchant ships, including those carrying Ukrainian grain, which have caused casualties and disappearances near Romania and Bulgaria and have affected the territorial waters of allied countries.