US Envoys to Meet Zelensky After Putin Talks in Moscow

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have held a fresh round of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, as diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine continue.

The meeting took place a day after the latest discussions aimed at ending the conflict concluded in Abu Dhabi. Kushner and Witkoff are now travelling to Dublin to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Witkoff said a new round of trilateral talks had already been agreed with Putin, with European representatives expected to participate.

The discussions in the United Arab Emirates focused largely on European security arrangements in a post-war situation. However, a resolution to the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, remains distant.

Starlink Disruption Raises Concerns

On Thursday, Zelensky said Ukraine’s military was once again experiencing what he described as “systematic” restrictions affecting Starshield, the military-grade satellite service developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

He said the disruption was making it difficult for Ukrainian forces to intercept Russian jet-powered drones and had been ongoing for several days.

Zelensky accused the restrictions of helping Russian forces carry out more accurate attacks and cause further Ukrainian casualties.

He said Kyiv was working with the American side to resolve the situation but suggested that some of the decisions being made in the United States raised concerns about its position on Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty.

Starshield and the wider Starlink network have become important communication tools for Ukrainian forces on the front line.

A similar connectivity problem affected troops in late October and lasted about a week before being resolved. It remains unclear who ordered the temporary restrictions.

Territorial Disputes Remain a Major Obstacle

During the Moscow meeting, Putin said territorial disagreements remained one of the biggest obstacles to a peace agreement.

He insisted that Russia recognised only the state border as a clear line of demarcation, arguing that discussions about disputed or “grey” areas could make any agreement unstable.

Putin also proposed a humanitarian ceasefire to allow hundreds of civilians to leave the contested frontline city of Kostyantynivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

He suggested a five-day truce, similar to a previous ceasefire arrangement in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky.

However, Kyiv remains suspicious of the proposal. Ukrainian presidential adviser Dmitry Lytvyn said Russian forces had used the previous humanitarian arrangement in Oleshky to bring in equipment and rotate troops.

He warned that a similar arrangement in Kostyantynivka could help Moscow strengthen its military position. Ukraine also disputes Russia’s claim that it fully controls the city.

European Security at the Centre of Discussions

Another major focus of the talks is the future of European security arrangements.

Kushner said Washington hoped to establish a new security framework involving Ukraine, Russia and Europe that could help secure lasting peace.

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov also acknowledged that the existing security system was not working.

However, Ukraine and several European countries remain concerned that the United States could make decisions about Europe’s future security without their involvement.

Zelensky described the American decision to discuss a new European security order directly with Russia as “a bit strange”.

Kristi Raik, director of the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute, said the discussions represented a significant shift in the US position by taking up a longstanding Russian demand to negotiate European security arrangements alongside the Ukraine peace process.

She said Moscow had historically sought to reduce NATO’s presence along its eastern flank and gain influence over decisions concerning European security and defence.

Raik warned that these demands could make an agreement between Russia and European countries difficult to achieve.

Putin again said the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine would be unacceptable to Russia. He also urged the United States to engage with European countries so they could decide whether they wanted peace or war.

Europe Seeks a Greater Role

European countries have increasingly sought direct engagement with Moscow after previously cutting communications with the Kremlin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Concerns have grown that decisions affecting the continent could be made without European participation.

Witkoff said European countries would be included in the next round of negotiations, describing them as important partners.

Kushner also urged European leaders to select one representative to speak on their behalf during the discussions.

However, the Kremlin has not confirmed the final composition of next week’s talks. Putin had earlier indicated that he did not want European countries to play a full role, citing their support for Ukraine as an obstacle to their involvement.

The latest diplomatic efforts continue amid major disagreements over territory, Ukraine’s future security arrangements and the role of European countries in any eventual peace agreement.