Trump envoys meet Putin in Moscow, then brief European officials in Dublin

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine, before flying to Dublin to brief European officials on the talks.

Vladimir Putin, with advisers Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, met US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on Thursday.

Photo: Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofiev/Pool via REUTERS

In a post on X, Kushner wrote on Friday that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to widen the next round of negotiations to include European countries.

He said this would make it possible "to address the broader postwar European security arrangements alongside the territorial issues" between Kyiv and Moscow.

He added that Washington was working on "the largest prisoner exchange of the war."

No date or venue has been announced for the next round.

Today concluded three days of intense diplomacy aimed at ending the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine. Following detailed trilateral negotiations with the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi, we traveled to Moscow for direct discussions with President Putin, then to Dublin to meet with President Zelenskyy. We concluded the day consulting with National Security Advisors from Ukraine, Germany, Italy, EU, France, Ireland, and Poland. A tremendous amount of work has gone into restarting direct negotiations after many months. We have made meaningful progress in understanding both sides’ concerns, identifying possible solutions, and establishing a path forward. Both sides have now agreed to expand the next round of negotiations to include our European partners. This will allow us to address the broader postwar European security arrangements alongside the territorial issues between Ukraine and Russia. A lasting end to the fighting requires credible security guarantees, deconfliction mechanisms, and reciprocal de-escalation commitments that reduce the risk of future conflict. We agreed with President Zelenskyy to remain in close contact with him and his team, and reaffirmed that no broader European security arrangements will be finalized without addressing Ukraine’s security concerns. We will begin discussing these interconnected issues in parallel, with the understanding that, apart from humanitarian measures, nothing will be finalized until a comprehensive agreement is reached. We are also working toward what would be the largest prisoner exchange of the war, potentially reuniting thousands of people with their families. Many people’s lives have been devastated by this war and we hope both sides will demonstrate the good will and seriousness necessary to complete this important step. We expect to announce the negotiating tracks, schedule, and additional details shortly. President Trump is determined to end this horrible war. Significant differences remain, but we are encouraged by the progress made. We will undertake whatever hard diplomatic work is necessary to find a breakthrough that ends the fighting and creates the foundation for lasting peace, a sovereign, secure, and prosperous Ukraine, and a more stable Europe.

— Jared Kushner (@jaredkushner) November 13, 2026

During the meeting, Putin claimed that Russia had never opposed dialogue with Europe, insisting it was the other side that had broken it off.

He warned that any plan to send Western troops to Ukraine after a peace deal would lead to a resumption of the war, because Moscow would see it as a threat to its security.

Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov did not confirm that Europeans would join the talks.

He said their current position on Ukraine was a recipe for endless war.

Many experts are concerned by the topics being put on the agenda, according to public broadcaster Polish Radio.

Discussing Ukraine's territory and the continent's security reflects long-standing Russian aims, they say, and Moscow wants to take territory and limit the sovereignty of European states.

Speaking at a summit of European leaders in Dublin on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he found the US approach to discussing a new security order in Europe with Russia "somewhat strange."

Even so, widening the talks is seen by the EU and Ukraine as a step forward, because the Kremlin had not previously agreed to it.

Polish PM's national security adviser briefed by Trump envoys 

The envoys then held talks late on Thursday at a military airport in Dublin with national security advisers.

Kushner said they came from Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, France, Ireland and the EU.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the UK was also represented and that the Americans had briefed participants on the outcome of the Moscow meeting.

Polish Radio reported that Robert Kupiecki, Tusk’s national security adviser, attended on Poland’s behalf.

Zelensky also briefly met the two American envoys.

He welcomed the news that Europeans would attend the next round, adding that he hoped the agenda would include steps towards a ceasefire and de-escalation.

.@SEPeaceMissions, @jaredkushner, and I met in Ireland following all the negotiations held this week. First, a humanitarian outcome – prisoners will be released, and we are counting on the largest prisoner exchange since the start of this war. The second outcome – we are involving European representatives even more actively in diplomacy so that they can have an equal seat at the negotiating table. Ukraine always defends the interests of all of Europe. Third, we are also preparing further multilateral meetings. Diplomacy will remain active. Thank you to everyone who supports Ukraine. Thank you, Steve and Jared, for the intensive communication. Thank you to Ireland for the excellent organization of the European Political Community Summit and for hosting our negotiations today. Glory to Ukraine!

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 12, 2026

Separately, Zelensky said on Thursday that the latest disruption to Starshield, the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service, was "significant" and affected the whole front line and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

Similar issues were reported last month.

(ał/gs)

Source: polskieradio24.pl, Reuters, IAR