US envoy Jared Kushner said Saturday he is working with Russia, Ukraine and Europe to advance peace talks, including facilitating direct engagement between Europe and Moscow. Kushner and fellow envoy Steve Witkoff are now working on next steps, he told reporters.
Kushner's comments follow peace talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday that did not reach a breakthrough but resulted in a prisoner exchange. He said "both sides" understand that compromises will be necessary to end the war.
European leaders agreed Friday to send five representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Poland to represent the bloc at future peace talks. These five countries have signalled readiness to send troops as part of a "coalition of the willing" to secure Ukraine in a ceasefire scenario.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that European security cannot be considered "without Europe". French President Emmanuel Macron posted Saturday that the bloc must "state clearly" what it wants for the post-war period, "including to the Russians".
The Kremlin has signalled openness to negotiations with Europe but has criticised a lack of proposals from the bloc. Zelenskyy said Friday that US negotiators asked during the Abu Dhabi talks whether Ukraine would withdraw troops from its eastern region of Donbas in exchange for NATO membership.