Zelensky Welcomes EU Role in Next Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed a US commitment to include European Union representatives in the next round of peace negotiations with Russia.

Zelensky said European involvement would ensure the EU has a voice in discussions about ending the war, particularly as the continent faces growing security concerns over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday evening after holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier in the day.

Putin maintained that Russia’s position on the war and its territorial demands had not changed.

The diplomatic engagements followed negotiations in Abu Dhabi last week, which ended without a breakthrough.

However, Russia and Ukraine agreed to another prisoner exchange, described by Kushner as the largest since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. He said the agreement would return thousands of people to their families, although the number of prisoners involved and the exchange date were not disclosed.

US says Europe will have a seat at the table

Zelensky has repeatedly called for European representatives to participate in peace negotiations, arguing that their involvement is important given Ukraine’s ambition to join the European Union.

Kushner said the US had been working closely with European leaders over the past several months and had emphasised to Putin the importance of including them in the negotiations.

He said the Russian president was willing to give the proposal a try.

Moscow has previously been dismissive of European involvement, while European leaders have insisted they must play a central role in decisions affecting the continent’s future security.

European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas said Russia’s willingness to consider European participation showed that the Kremlin recognised Europe’s influence.

However, she expressed doubts that Moscow was genuinely moving towards a peace agreement.

European leaders raise security concerns

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin told European leaders gathered in Dublin that Russia’s war against Ukraine had fundamentally changed the region’s security situation.

He warned that several EU member states felt an existential threat and feared further Russian aggression if Ukraine were to fall.

Around one-fifth of Ukraine remains under Russian control, while cross-border incursions continue.

Starlink restrictions add to tensions

Tensions between Washington and Kyiv were also evident ahead of Thursday’s meeting.

Zelensky said Ukraine’s military was experiencing increasingly systematic restrictions affecting its access to Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade satellite service.

He said the restrictions were making it harder for Ukrainian forces to intercept Russian jet-powered drones.

The satellite technology, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has played an important role in communications between Ukrainian government and military units, particularly along the front lines.

The latest diplomatic efforts come as Ukraine continues to push for a peace agreement that includes European security guarantees and protects its territorial interests.