Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed a commitment by United States envoys to include European Union representatives in the next round of peace negotiations with Russia. Zelensky said European participation would ensure the bloc has a voice in discussions aimed at ending the war, following growing security concerns among European leaders.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday evening after holding discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier in the day. However, Putin maintained that Russia’s position on the war and its territorial demands remained unchanged. The diplomatic engagements followed negotiations in Abu Dhabi the previous week, which ended without a breakthrough.
Speaking after the meeting, Kushner said the United States had been working closely with European countries over the past several months. He added that he had emphasized to Putin the importance of European representatives participating in the negotiations, noting that the Russian leader was willing to consider the proposal. Zelensky has repeatedly called for European involvement in peace negotiations, arguing that the continent has a direct interest in the outcome of the conflict and that Ukraine’s ambition to join the European Union makes its participation important.
European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas said Russia’s willingness to consider European involvement suggested that Moscow recognized the bloc’s influence. However, she expressed doubts about whether Russia was genuinely moving towards a peace agreement. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin also warned that Russia’s invasion had fundamentally changed Europe’s security environment. He said several EU member states now felt threatened by the possibility of further aggression if Ukraine were to fall.
Approximately one-fifth of Ukraine remains under Russian control, while cross-border attacks and incursions continue. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine agreed to another prisoner exchange, described by Kushner as the largest since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. He said the agreement would allow thousands of people to reunite with their families, although the number of prisoners involved and the exchange date were not disclosed.
Tensions between Washington and Kyiv also emerged ahead of Thursday’s meeting, as Zelensky raised concerns about increasing restrictions affecting Ukraine’s access to Starlink’s military-grade satellite service, Starshield. The Ukrainian president said the restrictions had made it more difficult for his military to intercept Russian jet-powered drones. The satellite technology, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has played an important role in maintaining communication for Ukraine’s government and military, particularly along the front lines.
Zelensky has welcomed the possibility of European representatives joining the next round of Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations after US envoys raised the issue with Putin. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to another prisoner exchange, although major disagreements over the war remain.
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