European representatives are set to participate in upcoming negotiations to end the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, according to U.S. envoy Jared Kushner. This development follows Kushner’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where he described the talks as detailed and productive. Speaking in Dublin alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kushner emphasized that a peace agreement cannot be finalized without the involvement of European countries.
Zelensky expressed approval of the decision, highlighting the necessity for European nations to have a say in the negotiations given the war’s impact on the continent. He also announced that Russia has agreed to a significant prisoner exchange, potentially the largest of its kind, which would see thousands of soldiers reunited with their families.
The decision to include European representatives in the peace talks comes after meetings in Moscow involving Kushner and U.S. representative Steve Witkoff, who subsequently briefed Zelensky. The move is seen as a step towards a more united approach to securing Ukraine’s future, with European leaders having stressed the importance of a cohesive stance.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for European countries to assume greater responsibility in supporting Ukraine, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the importance of bringing Putin to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, Zelensky urged European leaders to remain vigilant against any attempts to alter the continent’s security dynamics without their input.
As the peace talks progress, Zelensky also pressed for continued advancement in Ukraine’s negotiations for European Union membership, underscoring the broader geopolitical stakes at play in the resolution of the conflict.