Zelensky Says US Intelligence Sharing 'Works Now' as Envoy Heads to Moscow for Putin Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that US intelligence sharing with Kyiv "works now", following talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Oslo, even as questions persist over the delivery of American-made Patriot air defence interceptors.

The developments came as a US envoy was reported to be travelling to Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, a contact that officials and analysts will watch closely for any sign of movement towards talks on ending the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Addressing intelligence sharing after Tuesday's talks, Zelensky said he was "thankful that intelligence works now". "Speaking about early warning, which is very important for our people, our children, adults, civilians, because we can hear when ballistic[s] is coming — so we are thankful to the American side, now it works, it's great," the Ukrainian president said.

He said he also hoped for a good result on access to SpaceX's Starlink satellite network, after Ukraine's military reported in recent days speed restrictions on the US platform used by Kyiv to carry out drone strikes against Russia.

Before the Oslo talks, Zelensky said he had held a "constructive discussion" with Rubio about the need for US early warnings, missile interceptors and Starlink. Last week, a bipartisan group of US senators called for an urgent investigation into the speed restrictions on the Starlink network in Ukraine.

Zelensky restated that Ukraine was "ready for negotiations" to end the war. "Of course, we are not losing this war, but we are losing people because Russia attacks," he said.

The Ukrainian leader added that "strong" security guarantees for Ukraine were also discussed in Oslo, along with proposals for an energy ceasefire.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who also took part in the talks, stressed that Europe "needs to be at the table" during any discussions about how to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Unconfirmed reports earlier on Tuesday said the transfer of more US-made Patriot interceptor missiles — described as the only effective weapon for shooting down Russian ballistic missiles — had not yet been approved. Rubio, who is currently on a visit to India, acknowledged to reporters that it may be true the interceptors had not yet arrived in Ukraine, but stressed that nothing had been denied to Kyiv intentionally.

European leaders, meanwhile, have expressed concern about recent US statements towards Russia. On Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke of "mixed pictures and messages" on the war, adding that he was trying to convince the American government "in total that this is something we have to resolve jointly". "It's really a big effort for our budgets, it's really a big thing for the European Union, but we are doing that and we are trying to keep on doing that until this terrible war ends," the German leader told Bloomberg TV.

Asked in an interview on Monday whether he saw Ukraine as a US ally, US Vice-President JD Vance said Kyiv was "certainly a partner in some ways, but we have some divergent interests from time to time, like for example... I think they should stop bombing Russian energy". "We don't have a formal alliance as far as I know with Ukraine. They're not in Nato, I don't think they should be in Nato... we're gonna work together on some things, but also we're going to be opposite on some things too," he said.