Putin agrees to European role in Ukraine peace talks as Zelenskiy welcomes move

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to include European representatives in the next round of Ukraine peace talks, a US envoy said, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed the prospect, calling it an important step towards advancing diplomatic efforts.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the development following his meeting with Putin at the Kremlin on Thursday. He said European participation was important, as the countries were partners in efforts to resolve the conflict.

Witkoff and fellow US envoy Jared Kushner later travelled to Ireland, where they met with Zelenskiy on the sidelines of a European summit in Dublin.

The Ukrainian president welcomed the prospect of European involvement and expressed hope that the next round of negotiations would focus on de-escalation and possible ceasefire arrangements.

Zelenskiy said it was important to remove obstacles to the negotiations and establish an agenda that could help reduce tensions and move the conflict towards a peaceful resolution.

However, Putin stressed that Moscow had never opposed dialogue with European countries, claiming that European governments had been responsible for ending direct engagement with Russia.

The Russian president also warned that deploying Western troops in Ukraine under a potential peace agreement would be considered a security threat by Moscow and could lead to a resumption of hostilities.

Putin urged Washington to work with its European allies to determine whether they genuinely wanted peace or continued conflict in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov did not confirm European participation in the next round of talks and criticised the current European position on the conflict, describing it as a path towards an endless war.

The latest developments follow two days of trilateral negotiations between Russian, Ukrainian and US representatives in Abu Dhabi, marking the first direct US-mediated talks between Moscow and Kyiv in nine months.

Both sides reported some progress but acknowledged that major disagreements remain, particularly over territorial issues. Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine, while Kyiv continues to reject surrendering the remaining parts of the eastern Donbas region.

Separately, Zelenskiy raised concerns over restrictions affecting Starshield satellite communications, saying the disruptions had affected the entire front line. The Ukrainian president warned that limitations on the US-made system could have significant implications for Ukraine’s military operations.

The developments highlight continued diplomatic efforts to end the war, although major differences between Russia, Ukraine and their Western partners remain unresolved.