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Zelensky welcomes US bringing Europe into Russia-Ukraine peace talks
BBC • • nation
Key Points:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed a US pledge by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to include European Union delegates in upcoming peace talks with Russia, ensuring the EU has a "voice" in negotiations.
- Kushner and Witkoff met Zelensky in Dublin after Kushner's earlier meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where Putin maintained Russia's unchanged war stance and territorial demands.
- Despite previous unsuccessful talks in Abu Dhabi, Russia and Ukraine agreed to their largest prisoner exchange since the 2022 invasion, though specific details and timelines were not disclosed.
- Kushner emphasized close US collaboration with European partners and noted Putin's willingness to try including European delegates at the negotiation table, addressing concerns about US commitment to European security.
- European leaders, including the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, highlighted the war's profound impact on regional security and the growing recognition of Europe's central role in post-war dynamics.
