Special envoy to US President Donald Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner stated on Thursday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to include European countries in the next round of negotiations. Kushner's remarks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the announcement of European representatives' participation in the next round of peace talks, which are mediated by the US.
Zelenskyy expressed hope that the agenda of the negotiations would cover efforts to achieve a ceasefire and de-escalate the conflict. After talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Kushner, he emphasised the importance of continuing the negotiation process, given that this week's talks in Abu Dhabi were the first such meetings in the past nine months.
"We are also working on what would be the largest prisoner exchange in this war, which would potentially reunite thousands of people with their families," Kushner wrote on X, without providing details of the agreement. Expanding the next round of negotiations to European partners would allow for the consideration of broader security arrangements in Europe after the war, as well as territorial issues between Ukraine and Russia, Kushner added.
Kushner also noted that Washington is encouraged by the progress made, but warned that significant differences remain among the parties. In his statement, he highlighted that a lasting cessation of hostilities requires ensuring credible security guarantees and mutual de-escalation commitments to reduce the risk of future conflicts.
Witkoff had earlier stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to the participation of European representatives in the next round of negotiations, while simultaneously calling on Washington to determine with its European allies whether they want peace or war in Ukraine. Kushner and Witkoff travelled to Moscow for a meeting with Putin, and then to Dublin for a meeting with Zelenskyy.
Kyiv and Moscow state that, despite some progress, major differences remain between them, particularly regarding territorial issues. Russia holds a fifth of Ukraine, while Kyiv refuses to cede the remaining part of its eastern Donbas region. Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Trump, who promised to end the war upon his return to the White House, has yet to reach a peace deal.
