Zelensky Welcomes US Pledge to Include EU in Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

OPA WIRE, Nov 13 (OPA) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday welcomed a pledge from US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to incorporate European Union delegates into the next round of peace talks with Russia. Zelensky stated that involving European leaders ensures the bloc has a direct voice in negotiations regarding the conflict. The diplomatic development follows a series of high-stakes discussions in Abu Dhabi last week that failed to yield a breakthrough in ending the war.

Kushner and Witkoff met with Zelensky in Dublin late Thursday after holding discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Putin reportedly maintained that Moscow's core demands regarding the war and territorial control remain unchanged. However, Kushner noted that Putin indicated a willingness to permit European delegates at the negotiating table. The meetings also produced an agreement between Russia and Ukraine on a major prisoner exchange, described as the largest swap since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

The inclusion of European representatives addresses long-standing concerns in Kyiv and Brussels over the current US administration's foreign policy approach and its engagement with the Kremlin. European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas told the BBC that European participation demonstrates that Moscow recognizes the EU as a major geopolitical actor. European leaders have repeatedly emphasized their centrality to any post-war security architecture, noting that approximately one-fifth of Ukraine remains under Russian military control.

Despite the diplomatic momentum, tensions persist between Washington and Kyiv over logistical support on the battlefield. Zelensky reported Thursday that the Ukrainian military faces systematic restrictions on military-grade Starlink satellite services, impacting operations against Russian drone incursions. Meanwhile, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin told regional leaders in Dublin that the conflict has fundamentally reshaped European security, leaving multiple member states grappling with existential threats.