Rescuers with a search dog attempt to find victims in the rubble of a house after a Russian air attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv is again receiving early warnings from partners about incoming Russian missiles. This follows recent strikes that occurred without enough notice, leaving civilians at risk.
For at least a week, Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine had not been receiving timely warnings about ballistic missiles targeting the capital. He emphasized that timely intelligence can save lives by allowing the public to be alerted and giving military units a chance to intercept the missiles.
Zelenskyy credited the change to discussions with American officials, including a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He expressed gratitude, stating, “We are thankful that intelligence works now… for our people, for children, adults, and civilians.” He made these remarks during a visit to Norway.
In response, Rubio acknowledged mutual dissatisfaction between the U.S. and Ukraine regarding intelligence sharing and weapons supplies. However, he denied any changes to U.S. policy on these issues under the Trump administration.
US Envoy Scheduled to Visit Russia
In other news, Russia launched more missile and drone attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine, killing at least nine people. Zelenskyy continued to seek more assistance from the United States and Europe.
During his time in Norway, Zelenskyy met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been trying to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb also participated in discussions in Oslo. Gahr Støre noted that Witkoff plans to travel to St. Petersburg to meet with Russian leaders and share proposals from the Oslo meeting.
“Today was a good day for peace,” said Finnish President Stubb.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed an openness to new U.S. proposals about Ukraine but did not expect significant changes from Washington.
At the White House, President Donald Trump urged Zelenskyy to reach an agreement with Russia, emphasizing the considerable support the U.S. has given Ukraine.
Zelenskyy Discusses Slowed U.S. Support
Zelenskyy’s dialogue with Rubio followed a meeting with U.S. lawmakers where he expressed concerns that U.S. support for Ukraine had slowed. Ukraine is experiencing a shortage of American-made Patriot air-defense interceptors crucial for countering Russian missiles.
Zelenskyy claimed the Pentagon is delaying missile deliveries that other countries have bought for Ukraine. He also mentioned limitations on Ukraine’s use of Starshield, a military version of SpaceX’s Starlink internet service, affecting battlefield operations.
Trump’s decision to waive sanctions on Russia was criticized by Zelenskyy, who argued it supports Russia’s ongoing invasion efforts.
Zelenskyy noted a substantive conversation with Rubio on social media, saying, “I am grateful for his readiness to help and his clear position.” Rubio, while in India, denied that the U.S. was withholding aid from Ukraine, asserting that no deliberate effort was made to harm Ukraine.
Europe Steps Up Amid U.S. Slowdown
As the U.S. supply of aid dwindles, European nations are trying to fill the gap. They view Ukraine as essential in countering Russian ambitions. Europe has allocated 237 billion euros to support Ukraine compared to 115 billion euros from the U.S., according to Germany’s Kiel Institute.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas questioned the U.S. role in peace negotiations, suggesting that American officials have pressured Ukraine to make concessions.
Russian Attacks Lead to Further Destruction in Ukraine
Recent Russian missile and drone strikes resulted in power outages across 12 Ukrainian regions. These attacks killed several people and caused injuries, including children.
- Four people were killed and 27 wounded in attacks on the Kyiv region.
- Two vehicles caught fire on the Kyiv-Odesa highway, resulting in three deaths.
- Two additional people died in attacks near Dnipro.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that its forces targeted logistics centers and port infrastructure in Ukraine. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted numerous drones attempting incursions into Russian regions overnight.
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