Russia and Ukraine have agreed to expand the next round of peace negotiations to include European countries, Jared Kushner, a special envoy and son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, said on Thursday after separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
U.S. special envoys Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow before traveling on to Dublin, where they met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Kushner said no agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict could be reached without Europe's participation, adding that the U.S. side had made "meaningful progress" on understanding both sides' concerns, identifying possible solutions and establishing a path forward.
He said both Russia and Ukraine have now agreed to expand the next round of talks to include other European countries, a move that will "make it possible to address broader issues concerning Europe's postwar security arrangements alongside territorial issues between Ukraine and Russia."
Zelensky, who attended the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit in Dublin on Thursday, called on Europe to become a formal participant in the negotiations. Following his talks with the U.S. side, the Ukrainian president said Russia and the United States had agreed to what would be the largest prisoner exchange since the conflict began.
Kushner added that several thousand captives are expected to be released.
On Europe's involvement in the peace process, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the summit there was no need to rush to designate a European negotiator, stressing that Europe's common position should first be clarified.
The developments came after a two-day round of trilateral talks between Russia, the United States and Ukraine concluded Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. The parties reached agreement on the prisoner swap, but major differences remain on key issues including ending the conflict, territorial disputes, security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe's future security architecture.
Russia, Ukraine agree to include European countries in next round of talks: US Envoy
