Zelensky applauds US push to bring EU into Ukraine‑Russia peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that he welcomed U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff’s commitment to involve European Union delegates in the forthcoming peace talks with Russia, a move he says aligns with Kyiv’s long‑term goal of EU membership (BBC News).

Why does Zelensky want EU participation?

He argues that EU involvement would give the bloc a "voice" in any settlement and reflects Ukraine’s ambition to join the union. Zelensky has repeatedly called for European delegates, noting that the war has reshaped European security and that many EU states feel an existential threat (BBC News).

What did the U.S. envoys discuss in Dublin?

Kushner and Witkoff met Zelensky in Dublin after a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where Putin reiterated that Russia’s war stance and territorial demands remain unchanged. The Americans said they have been working closely with European partners and stressed to Putin the importance of having EU representatives at the negotiating table (BBC News).

What other developments accompanied the talks?

The Dublin meeting came after a failed Abu Dhabi summit and coincided with the largest prisoner swap since Russia’s 2022 invasion, which Kushner described as returning "thousands of people" though exact numbers were not disclosed. Zelensky also warned that Ukraine’s military faces systematic restrictions on Starlink’s Starshield service, hampering its ability to counter Russian drones (BBC News).