US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will meet separately with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday. Their mission follows two days of discussions in Abu Dhabi aimed at bringing an end to the Ukraine conflict.
Initially, Witkoff and Kushner will fly to Moscow for talks with Putin, then travel to Dublin to brief Zelensky, who is in Ireland for European meetings. Upon arriving, Zelensky noted a potential “window of opportunity” to resolve the ongoing conflict before 2027. He expressed hope for specific outcomes from the US discussions with Putin, despite his scepticism.
Zelensky welcomed what he perceived as a positive shift in the US approach regarding Europe’s involvement in the negotiations. Meanwhile, European leaders have expressed concern over Russia’s push for a reassessment of the continent’s security arrangements, alongside the US’s proposal for a new framework. Putin’s representatives have described the aim as pursuing a “new, modern Yalta,” referencing the post-World War II division of Europe.
Around 50 European leaders are expected in Dublin, with the discussions in Abu Dhabi likely to be a key topic of the summit. EU officials are sceptical about any genuine progress towards peace, asserting that Europe sees no need to reconsider its security strategy with Moscow until hostilities cease.
Zelensky and US representatives have called on European nations to decide on a single envoy for potential negotiations with Russia. Following the talks in Abu Dhabi, an agreement was reached for a significant prisoner exchange, though the specific numbers are unclear. Zelensky stated Kyiv is awaiting Moscow’s response regarding an exchange proposal of “1,000 for 1,000, maybe even 1,200.”
Negotiations remain challenging, with Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia indicating that the Russian team arrived with strict instructions, but progress is being made. Kushner noted the meeting with Putin would seek to build on discussions from Abu Dhabi, exploring ideas for further agreements.
The ongoing war has led to hundreds of thousands of casualties since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, displacing millions and devastating large areas of Ukraine. Russia demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from eastern territories and seeks a comprehensive agreement on security in Europe, which Kyiv contends should only be considered after a ceasefire.
