Trump and Zelensky appear at loggerheads despite Oslo optimism

Image source, EPAImage caption, Witkoff and Zelensky met in the Norwegian capitalByPaul AdamsDiplomatic correspondentThe hug that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff offered Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of this afternoon's talks in Oslo is unlikely to have dispelled the Ukrainian leader's misgivings about the current direction of US policy towards his war-ravaged country.Zelensky posted a video of the moment on social media, with the message "Ukraine is working for peace. I thank our partners for their support!"But given everything that's happened this month, does the Ukrainian leader still regard Donald Trump as a partner?The two men have never been close – that much is obvious – but have they now fallen out once and for all?Both in rhetoric and actions, the past ten days have seen evidence of a rupture as deep as any in their fractious relationship.Just listen to the way they talk about each other."Zelensky's not a good guy for us to deal with," Trump told Newsmax last week.The verbal assault has continued this week."Zelensky doesn't know what he's talking about," Trump told a reporter on Monday when asked what he thought of the Ukrainian leader's suggestion that striking a diesel deal with Ru...