Europe joins next Russia-Ukraine talks, Kushner confirms
US envoys say Moscow agreed to include five capitals and the EU in upcoming negotiations, while also preparing a major prisoner swap.
By Alessia Desai ·
Russia and Ukraine agreed on Thursday to include European nations in the next round of peace talks.
Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and special envoy, announced the expansion of the negotiation table. He stated that Washington is currently working toward what he described as the largest prisoner exchange of the war. This potential swap could reunite thousands of displaced families.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that European leaders will no longer remain separate from the main discussions. He noted that in the recent Abu Dhabi meeting, European officials stayed on the sidelines. Zelensky insisted that they will now have a direct voice in the process. "We cannot conclude this deal without Europeans being at the table," Kushner added. He said Vladimir Putin was willing to try this new multilateral approach.
An EU official told the French news agency AFP that representatives from five European capitals and the European Commission met with the US envoys. The official said a new multilateral meeting will be scheduled soon. The Kremlin has not yet publicly confirmed that President Putin agreed to include Europe in the future talks. Kyiv and its allies have long sought this inclusion to ensure their interests are protected.
The US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Dublin to meet with Zelensky. This meeting followed their recent talks with President Putin in Moscow. During the Dublin visit, Zelensky reported that Ukrainian military units have recorded new disruptions to the Starshield satellite communications service. These technical issues are affecting the entire front line and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
In Moscow, President Putin indicated that the Kremlin would not compromise on its hardline demands to end the war. However, he offered a short-term ceasefire in a key frontline city during his meeting with the US envoys.
