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Europe will join the next round of Ukraine peace talks, US envoys say, as Putin refuses to soften his demands
- What happened
- Jared Kushner and Volodymyr Zelensky said in Dublin that European countries will take part in the next round of talks with Russia on ending the war.
- Why it matters
- Putin told the US envoys he would not give up his territorial demands and would treat any foreign troops in Ukraine as a target.
- What’s next
- EU leaders meet in Dublin on Friday to discuss who should speak for Europe; no single envoy is expected to be named yet.
How this story developed
- 22:05First report
- 22:532nd source
- 22:53Confirmed
- 01:00+2 outlets in 27 min
- 05:015th source
- 07:126th source
- 22:05First reportSouth China Morning Post
- 22:532nd sourceFrance 24
- 22:53ConfirmedWas: Single source
- 01:00+2 outlets in 27 minDW World and The Guardian World
- 05:015th sourceBBC News World
- 07:12Latest6th sourceAl Jazeera English
Full story
A seat for Europe
European countries will take part in the next round of talks with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine, the US envoy Jared Kushner and the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Thursday in Dublin, France 24 reported. Kushner and Steve Witkoff flew there to brief Zelensky after more than four hours of talks with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, the South China Morning Post reported.
“We cannot conclude this deal without Europeans being at the table.”
Jared Kushner, France 24
Kushner also said on X that Washington was working towards what would be the largest prisoner exchange of the war, potentially reuniting thousands of people with their families, France 24 reported. Zelensky welcomed the move, saying it made sense for Europe to be involved as Ukraine hopes to join the EU, according to the BBC.
Putin holds firm
In Moscow, Putin refused to soften his demand for full control of four Ukrainian regions that Russia claims to have annexed, and ruled out foreign peacekeepers, the Guardian reported. DW said he had suggested his demands could include a commitment that Ukraine never joins NATO, and even rolling the alliance back to remove Finland and Sweden.
“What do we hear from them? That once a peace agreement is signed, they will immediately deploy troops in Ukraine. This is a legitimate target for us, so the war will resume immediately.”
Vladimir Putin, DW World(translated)
Zelensky also accused Elon Musk’s Starlink of hurting Ukraine’s air defence. He said Starshield, the military version of the service, had for several days been limited to speeds of 100mph along the front line, making it harder to intercept Russian jet drones, the Guardian reported.
Who speaks for Europe
More than 45 leaders are meeting in Dublin for the European Political Community summit, and EU leaders are due to discuss on Friday who should represent the bloc. The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and the European Council president, António Costa, are seen as likely choices, but one EU official told the Guardian they did not expect agreement on a special representative.
The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said Europe must be at the table, but that getting Putin to negotiate came first. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said the content would determine the format. The Estonian prime minister, Kristen Michal, warned that Europe was being drawn into discussing its own defence with the country that threatens it.
Russian strikes on energy infrastructure overnight caused power cuts in 12 Ukrainian regions, Ukraine’s deputy energy minister said on Friday, France 24 reported.