European officials will secure a seat at the upcoming meeting between Russia and Ukraine to end nearly five years of conflict, following talks in Dublin.
“We cannot close this agreement without the Europeans being at the negotiation table,” Jared Kushner said in Dublin. “I think we can make it happen with President Putin.”
The breakthrough follows a week of intense diplomatic shuttle diplomacy led by US mediators Kushner and Steve Witkoff. The pair previously mediated two days of meetings between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi before traveling directly to Moscow.
Yet structural disagreements continue over territorial control and future security guarantees. Vladimir Putin reiterated in Moscow that he will not abandon his territorial demands or relinquish control over the regions of Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed.
“For us there is only one demarcation line: the state border. Because then it will be clear and evident: here are we and there are you,” Vladimir Putin said in Moscow.
The Kremlin broadcasted a lengthy initial dialogue between Putin and the American envoys on television. During the exchange, the Russian leader flatly rejected the creation of demilitarized “grey zones” between opposing forces.
Moscow formally annexed the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporiyia regions of Ukraine despite lacking total military control over them. Ukraine and Western nations roundly reject these annexations as illegal under international law.
European capitals have spent months debating the appointment of a unified representative to participate in peace talks. At the same time, continental leaders remain deeply anxious about Russian efforts to overhaul the entire European security architecture.
European Council President Antonio Costa dismissed the push for a new security framework, asserting that there is no need to reinvent the wheel and accusing Moscow of dismantling existing security structures by invading Ukraine.
Moscow insists that any peace talks must form part of a broader debate addressing European security as a whole. Kiev and European leadership strongly reject proposals resembling a “new Yalta,” referencing the 1945 conference where foreign powers carved out regional spheres of influence.
Friction also persists over post-conflict peacekeeping forces. Putin warned that deploying foreign troops to Ukraine would serve as a continuation of the war, declaring that Moscow would treat any foreign military personnel stationed in the country as a legitimate target.
| Territorial Status | Year Claimed / Occupied | Current Control & Stance |
|---|---|---|
| Crimea | 2014 | Anexxed by Russia; rejected by Kiev and international community. |
| Eastern and Southern Zones | 2022 | Occupied during large-scale offensive; ongoing front-line combat. |
| Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporiyia | Formal Annexation | Claimed by Moscow despite lacking total military control. |
On the ground, combat operations continue near contested front lines. Putin proposed organizing a humanitarian mission in the frontline city of Kostyantynivka to evacuate an estimated 400 to 500 remaining civilians.
Russia claimed control of Kostyantynivka months ago, but Ukrainian forces maintain that fighting for the city continues. The proposed operation follows a short-lived truce last month that allowed trapped residents to flee the Russian-occupied southern locality of Oleshki.
Hundreds of thousands of people have died and millions have been forced to leave their homes in this conflict, which began nearly five years ago, while the advance of the Russian army slowed throughout 2026.
