Zelensky welcomes plan to bring European delegates into peace talks
US envoys say European delegates will join the next round of talks, while Moscow's position on territory has not changed.
Key points
- US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff pledged to include EU delegates in the next round of peace talks.
- Volodymyr Zelensky said the move would give the EU a voice in negotiations.
- Russia and Ukraine agreed a prisoner exchange, the largest since the 2022 invasion, according to BBC News.
- Vladimir Putin told the envoys Russia's position on territory has not changed.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has welcomed a commitment from US envoys to bring delegates from the European Union into the next round of peace talks with Russia. According to BBC News, the pledge came from Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who held a meeting with Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday evening.
Zelensky argued that European representatives at the negotiating table would give the EU a real say in the outcome. He has pushed for this for several years, pointing to Kyiv’s long-term goal of joining the bloc.
Read also: Zelensky says Starshield speed limits are helping Russia strike Ukraine
Envoys meet leaders in two capitals
The Dublin meeting was part of a busy day of diplomacy. Earlier, the envoys had met Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where he said Russia’s stance on the war, including its territorial demands, remains unchanged.
The talks follow meetings in Abu Dhabi last week, which did not produce a breakthrough. According to Kushner, he pressed Putin on the value of seating European representatives at the negotiating table, and Putin was open to testing the idea.
Prisoner exchange agreed
On Thursday, Russia and Ukraine also agreed another prisoner swap. It is the biggest of its kind during the war, which began with Moscow’s full invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kushner said the exchange would reunite thousands of people with their families.
Details have not been confirmed. No figures for how many prisoners will be exchanged have been given, and no timeline has been set.
European concerns and doubts
At the Dublin gathering, Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he believed the war had fundamentally reshaped the region’s security. He warned that many EU members feel an existential threat.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told the BBC’s Newshour that Moscow’s acceptance of a European seat suggests it now views Europe as a major player. She also voiced doubt that Russia is genuinely moving toward a peace deal.
Ukraine and Europe have for some time worried about Washington’s dedication to the security of the continent and its warmer approach toward the Kremlin. Moscow has largely brushed aside European involvement, though European governments argue they are central to any post-war arrangements on the continent.
Tensions over satellite services
Friction between Kyiv and Washington was also visible on Thursday. Zelensky said the military is facing tighter, more systematic limits on Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink. He said this makes it harder for Ukraine to intercept Russian jet-powered drones.
Starlink, which is run by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has been important for government and military communications in Ukraine. It also increasingly supports communication along the front line. About one-fifth of Ukraine remains under Russian control, and cross-border incursions are becoming more frequent.
Related: Russia, Ukraine and US to resume trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi
Frequently asked questions
Will European delegates join the Russia-Ukraine peace talks?
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have pledged to include EU delegates in the next round of talks. Details of the timing and format were not given in the source reports.
How large is the new prisoner exchange?
Russia and Ukraine agreed another prisoner exchange, described as the largest since the 2022 invasion. The number of prisoners and the timeline have not been confirmed.
What did Putin say about the war?
According to BBC News, Putin told the US envoys that Moscowu0026#039;s stance on the conflict, including its territorial demands, is unchanged.
Sources
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
