KYIV, Ukraine — Zelenskyy in Norway topped a fast-moving day of diplomacy and violence Tuesday, as Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities killed at least seven people and knocked out power across a dozen regions, according to officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Oslo to seek additional American and European support. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb were scheduled to meet with him in Norway’s capital.
The Norwegian government said U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff was also expected in Oslo. Jared Kushner would join by videoconference as part of continuing efforts to nudge Russia and Ukraine toward a settlement that so far has not materialized.
Zelenskyy in Norway amid questions over U.S. backing
With future U.S. assistance uncertain amid renewed tensions between Zelenskyy and former President Donald Trump, the Ukrainian leader said he spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during Rubio’s trip to Asia. Zelenskyy had told a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers Monday that he believes a political decision has been made to slow support.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine has nearly exhausted its stock of U.S.-made Patriot air defense interceptors needed to counter ballistic missiles. He urged Washington to send more and accused the Pentagon of delaying delivery of missiles purchased for Ukraine by other countries.
He also said he asked Rubio to help ensure continued U.S. intelligence sharing after Kyiv received none or delayed warnings about recent Russian missile barrages. Separately, he noted that speed limits remain on Ukraine’s use of SpaceX’s military-grade satellite service, which he said is hindering battlefield operations.
Trump has waived certain sanctions on Russia, a move Zelenskyy criticized as aiding President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion, now nearing five years.
European governments, viewing Ukraine as a bulwark against Moscow, are attempting to offset any shortfall in U.S. supplies. The Kiel Institute in Germany estimates European countries and EU institutions have committed 237 billion euros (266 billion dollars) to support Ukraine, compared with 115 billion euros (129 billion dollars) from the United States.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas questioned whether U.S. negotiators have acted as honest brokers in peace efforts. Ukrainian officials have said the Trump administration pressed Kyiv to concede territory to Russia in exchange for peace.
“Although American negotiators have been trying to push Ukraine into surrender for one and a half years now, why Ukraine hasn’t surrendered on Putin’s terms is because Europe has been supporting Ukraine,” Kallas told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg, adding that Ukraine wants peace but “the only one who doesn’t want peace is Russia.”
Casualties and damage from latest Russian strikes
Regional police said four people were killed and 27 wounded, including children, in attacks on the Kyiv region over the past day. Three people died and six were injured in the Obukhiv district, where warehouses were damaged.
In the Bucha district, one woman was killed and 21 people were wounded, eight of them children, and hundreds of buildings were damaged, police said. On Tuesday morning, three people were killed and four injured when two vehicles caught fire during a strike on the Kyiv–Odesa highway, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported.
The dead included the driver of a shuttle bus that was hit. The bus carries passengers from Kyiv to the National Military Memorial Cemetery.
National grid operator Ukrenergo reported power outages in 12 regions following the attacks.
Russia and Ukraine report drone and maritime strikes
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces conducted drone strikes on logistics centers and port infrastructure, and hit three cargo ships in the port of Reni in the Odesa region. It said another bulk carrier was struck at sea en route to Odesa.
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry said Russian air defenses intercepted 136 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions overnight. In the Tambov region, Gov. Yevgeny Pervyshov reported a fire at an unspecified industrial facility after the attack.
Western officials and analysts say that with Russian ground forces largely stalled along the front, the Kremlin is attempting to pummel Ukraine into submission while undercutting U.S. aid.
European governments, viewing Ukraine as a bulwark against Moscow, are attempting to offset any shortfall in U.S. supplies. The Kiel Institute in Germany estimates European countries and EU institutions have committed 237 billion euros (266 billion dollars) to support Ukraine, compared with 115 billion euros (129 billion dollars) from the United States.
Ukrainian officials have said the Trump administration pressed Kyiv to concede territory to Russia in exchange for peace. “Although American negotiators have been trying to push Ukraine into surrender for one and a half years now, why Ukraine hasn’t surrendered on Putin’s terms is because Europe has been supporting Ukraine,” Kallas told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg, adding that Ukraine wants peace but “the only one who doesn’t want peace is Russia.”
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces conducted drone strikes on logistics centers and port infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry said Russian air defenses intercepted 136 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions overnight.
In the Tambov region, Gov. Yevgeny Pervyshov reported a fire at an unspecified industrial facility after the attack.
