Zelensky welcomes US pledge to include EU in next Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed a pledge by US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to include European Union delegates in the next round of peace talks with Russia. Zelensky has argued for years that Europe should have a formal voice in negotiations, both because the war directly affects the continent’s security and because Ukraine hopes eventually to join the EU.
Kushner and Witkoff met Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday after talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Putin reportedly maintained that Russia’s position on the war, including its territorial demands, had not changed. The meetings followed negotiations in Abu Dhabi the previous week that produced no breakthrough.
The diplomatic activity did result in an agreement for another prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, described as the largest since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. Kushner said the deal would return “thousands of people to their families”, although no number or timetable was announced.
European governments remain concerned about Russia’s intentions and about the US commitment to European security. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, said the Kremlin’s acceptance of a European presence suggested it recognised Europe as a major player, but she questioned whether Moscow was genuinely moving towards peace. Ireland’s prime minister, Micheál Martin, said Russia’s war had fundamentally reshaped regional security, with about one-fifth of Ukraine still under Russian control and cross-border incursions becoming more frequent. Tensions with Kyiv’s US partners were also visible as Zelensky said Ukraine faced increasingly systematic restrictions on Starlink’s military-grade Starshield service, complicating efforts to intercept Russian jet-powered drones.
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