Kushner: Putin Ready to Let Europe Join Next Round of Ukraine Talks

Jared Kushner, a special envoy of US President Donald Trump, told journalists in Dublin that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to admit Europe to the next talks on ending the war Russia launched in Ukraine. The Ukrainian president's office carried the broadcast of his remarks.

Kushner said the United States has worked very closely with Europeans in recent months, calling this cooperation extremely important. He stressed that a deal cannot be concluded without the European side, and that the American side had made this point to Putin. According to Kushner, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also firmly backs this approach and has spoken about it from the start. Kushner said he believes an understanding was reached with Putin and that the Russian leader is ready to try.

Direct meetings

Kushner expressed the view that in direct meetings the European and Russian sides will be able to address all necessary issues. Judging by what Washington hears from people, he said, both sides want the war to end. He added that the war has lasted a long time, has affected many people, and that the focus is now on what the future may bring.

Background

On Thursday, 12 November, Putin met at the Kremlin with US presidential special envoys Steve Witkoff and Kushner. During the meeting, Putin proposed holding a so-called "humanitarian mission" in Kostiantynivka, in Ukraine's Donetsk region, modelled on the one in Oleshky. Witkoff and Kushner voiced hope that the European side would join the next round of peace talks on settling the war Russia started against Ukraine.