Ukraine war briefing: Europe to join negotiations, says Kushner, as Putin warns against peace keepers
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to include European countries in the next round of peace negotiations, according to Donald Trump's envoy Jared Kushner, after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The agreement comes after Kushner met with Putin in Moscow, with both sides expressing differing views on the path forward. "This will allow us to address the broader postwar European security arrangements alongside the territorial issues between Ukraine and Russia," Kushner stated on social media platform X.
Following the Moscow meeting, Kushner and Witkoff traveled to Ireland for a European summit where they met with Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president expressed satisfaction with European participation but emphasized the need for de-escalation measures. "We decided that we will work on an agenda about any kind of de-escalation, some kind of ceasefires," Zelenskyy said.
Putin's Warning
Putin cautioned Europe against sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, calling such a move a "continuation of war." He maintained Russia's territorial demands and urged Washington to clarify whether European allies truly desire peace or continued conflict in Ukraine.
We would very much like you, gentlemen, and the US administration as a whole, to work with your European allies so that they can finally make up their minds as to what they want: peace or war in Ukraine.
European Participation
Kushner claimed Washington had detected "a big change" in European attitudes toward the conflict, suggesting expanded talks wouldn't hinder progress. Witkoff emphasized the importance of European involvement, stating "The Europeans will join at the next meeting, which we consider to be a very important moment because they are our partners."
Putin acknowledged Russia's openness to dialogue with Europe but blamed European nations for breaking off previous communications. As far as the Europeans are concerned, we have never been opposed to engaging in dialogue with Europe, and we have never broken off that dialogue. It was they who broke off the dialogue with the Russian Federation, he claimed.
Ongoing Concerns
Despite diplomatic developments, the conflict continued on the ground. A Russian drone strike killed two people in Ukraine's Sumy region, while five others were injured in Rivne after a drone hit an apartment building. In Russia's Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, one person was killed and four injured in another drone attack.
Zelenskyy raised concerns about US-made satellite communications disruptions affecting Ukrainian military operations. Disruptions to the Starshield satellite communications service had affected the entire frontline and Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine, he said, finding the US approach to discussing European security with Russia "a bit strange." SpaceX declined to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian agricultural company Kernel Holding suspended operations at all its oilseed extraction plants following a series of Russian attacks on its facilities, highlighting the economic toll of the ongoing conflict.
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