Ukraine-Russia peace talks cannot be without it. Zelensky: I am happy to see Europe have a "voice"

U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky in Moscow and Dublin on the 12th. After the meeting, the United States and Ukraine stated that Europe would join the next round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Zelensky said he would like to see Europe "have a say."

Agence France-Presse reported that two U.S. envoys met with Putin at the Kremlin for more than four hours on the 12th, and then flew to Dublin, Ireland, for talks with Zelensky. After the meeting, Zelensky said he was happy to see the progress of European participation in peace talks and the prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. Europe "will have a say", he said, rather than "another" sideline conversation like the Abu Dhabi talks.

Kushner said, "Without Europe's participation in the negotiations, we cannot finalize this agreement." He also posted that "both sides have now agreed to expand the next round of negotiations to include our European partners." Although "there are still significant differences, we are encouraged by the progress reached so far."

An EU official told AFP that representatives from five European countries and the European Commission have also met with the US envoy and a new round of multilateral meetings "will be determined soon". However, Bloomberg pointed out that there are still different views within the EU on the extent of contact with Moscow, who should represent Europe in the peace talks, and whether it is necessary to nominate a single representative.

Zelensky also welcomed the prisoner exchange agreement on the 12th, saying that more than 1,000 Ukrainians will return to the country.