Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that Kyiv is once again receiving early warnings from its partners about incoming Russian missiles, following recent strikes that he said occurred without enough notice and left civilians vulnerable, the Associated Press reported. For at least a week, Zelenskyy has said Ukraine's military had not received early warnings about ballistic missiles aimed at the capital. Such intelligence, he said, saves lives by allowing the public to be alerted and giving military units time to try to intercept the missiles.

Zelenskyy said the change happened after talks with his American counterparts, including a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier on Tuesday. 'We are thankful that intelligence works now, and I'm speaking about early warning, which is very important for our people, for children, adults, civilians, because we can hear when ballistic is coming,' Zelenskyy said on his visit to Norway. 'So we are thankful to American side now that it works.'

Speaking to reporters in India, Rubio acknowledged mutual frustration between the US and Ukraine over intelligence sharing and weapons supplies, but emphatically denied that the Trump administration has made any changes to previous policy on either issue, AP reported. Zelenskyy's remarks follow his claim, reported earlier, that the Pentagon is holding up Patriot missiles already paid for by European allies — a claim Washington has not confirmed.

Zelenskyy was in Oslo seeking more American and European help. US envoy Steve Witkoff joined him in Norway, and Jared Kushner, another envoy and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, was due to join a meeting by videoconference. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Finnish President Alexander Stubb also met Zelenskyy. 'We are maintaining all contacts that can help bring peace,' Zelenskyy wrote on X after arriving in Oslo, adding that the talks would cover strengthening Ukraine's air defences and joint production of weapons. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Moscow hopes a meeting in Russia between the US envoys and President Vladimir Putin can be organised soon, perhaps as early as Wednesday, and said: 'We highly appreciate the mediation efforts of the American negotiators,' PA Media reported.

In other developments, Russia unleashed another missile and drone blitz on civilian areas in Ukraine, killing at least nine people, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday, according to AP — figures reported as officials' statements. The early-warning resumption matters because ballistic missiles reach Kyiv within minutes, and advance notice is what lets residents reach shelters and air defences prepare.

Sources: Associated Press, 'Zelenskyy says early warning system for Russian missile attacks resumes following call with Rubio', 20 October 2026 (via Military.com and PA Media syndication); AFP video report, 20 October 2026.