Europe will sit at the next round of Ukraine peace talks

European representatives will take part in the next round of negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff announced on Thursday after meeting in Dublin.

“At the next meeting, Europe will be on the negotiating team. They will have a voice,” Zelensky said at Casement airbase, outside Dublin. “This is important for us, because the war is in Europe.” Kushner added: “We cannot conclude this deal without the Europeans being at the table.”

The announcement came after two days of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, the first in nine months, and a meeting between the envoys and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Kushner also said work is underway on what would be the largest prisoner exchange of the war, potentially reuniting thousands of people with their families.

Moscow, however, has not confirmed European participation: Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said Europe must decide whether it wants “peace or the continuation of the war.” No date or venue has been announced for the next round, and major differences remain, above all territorial: Russia controls about a fifth of Ukraine.

Follow-up to: Witkoff and Kushner meet Putin in Moscow.

Photo: Bytes Europe

Source: Reuters