President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Dublin on November 12, following their visit to Moscow. The meeting occurred at Casement Aerodrome, a military base west of Dublin, where Zelensky was attending the European Political Community summit.
Envoys’ Moscow Visit and Peace Talks
Witkoff and Kushner had previously traveled to the Kremlin to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their meeting with Zelensky came a day after U.S.-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi, which ended without significant progress. Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s leading negotiator and foreign intelligence chief, also attended the Dublin talks.
In a post-meeting briefing, Zelensky announced that Europe would participate in the next round of peace talks. He also confirmed that the upcoming Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange would be the largest to date.
Europe’s Role in Negotiations
Zelensky emphasized Europe’s direct involvement in future negotiations. He clarified that European representatives would not hold separate talks but would have a voice in the process. Kushner confirmed Putin’s agreement to Europe’s participation, saying, “(H)e’s willing to give it a try.”
The envoys described their discussions with Zelensky as “very good” and their talks with Putin as “very detailed and productive.” Witkoff mentioned another round of talks was scheduled, but details were not provided. Zelensky indicated that negotiations would occur soon.
Postwar Reconstruction and Diplomatic Efforts
Kushner praised the postwar reconstruction plans for Ukraine, calling them “really incredible.” He also highlighted Ukraine’s potential. Russian state media reported that Putin proposed a temporary “humanitarian mission” in Kostiantynivka during the Moscow talks.
Before meeting with Witkoff and Kushner, Zelensky held discussions with European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham. He also announced that the Coalition of the Willing would meet in Berlin the following week to focus on Ukraine.
The role of Europe in peace negotiations and postwar security was a key topic in Abu Dhabi, though Russia’s representatives could not commit to a specific negotiating format. The meeting in Dublin marked a significant step in ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the conflict in Ukraine.
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