European countries are set to participate in the next round of negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to U.S. envoy Jared Kushner. This development follows Kushner’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where discussions were described as detailed and productive.
Kushner, speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin, emphasized the importance of European involvement in finalizing a peace agreement. Zelensky welcomed the inclusion, highlighting the necessity for European voices in negotiations due to the war occurring on their continent. Additionally, Zelensky confirmed that Russia agreed to a significant prisoner exchange, potentially the largest of its kind, which could see thousands of soldiers return to their families.
The announcement comes after meetings involving U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Kushner, who briefed Zelensky following their discussions in Moscow. The involvement of European representatives in the upcoming negotiations aligns with European leaders’ calls for a united stance on Ukraine’s security.
French President Emmanuel Macron has stressed the need for European nations to take greater responsibility in supporting Ukraine. Similarly, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has underscored the priority of bringing Putin to the negotiating table. Zelensky has also urged European leaders to remain vigilant against efforts to reshape the continent’s security landscape without their input and called for progress on Ukraine’s European Union membership discussions.