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Zelensky backs EU role in next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Developing story first seen 9 hours ago
Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed a US pledge to include European Union delegates in the next round of peace talks with Russia, saying this would give Europe a voice in negotiations. The move comes as European leaders voice growing concern about the continent’s security and their role in shaping any post-war settlement.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Zelensky in Dublin after talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow; Putin said Russia’s position and territorial demands had not changed. The meetings followed inconclusive talks in Abu Dhabi, while Russia and Ukraine agreed to their largest prisoner exchange since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, with no number or timetable announced. Russia occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine, and Kyiv has rejected demands to surrender areas of the eastern Donbas it still controls.
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- Left · Centre · Right
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In short
- Zelensky welcomes EU involvement in the next peace talks.
- Putin says Russia’s position and territorial demands are unchanged.
- Russia and Ukraine agree to their largest prisoner swap since 2022.
How this story developed
- 8 minutes ago Zelensky said restrictions affecting Starshield were making it harder for Ukraine to intercept Russian drones.
- 19 minutes ago Kyiv rejected demands to give up the parts of eastern Donbas it still controls, as Russia continued to occupy about one-fifth of Ukraine.
- 1 hour ago Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed a US pledge to include EU delegates in the next Russia peace talks, while US envoys met him in Dublin after talks with Vladimir Putin, who maintained Russia’s territorial demands; Moscow and Kyiv also agreed to a prisoner exchange, and Zelensky said Starshield restrictions hindered Ukraine’s drone defences.
- The Guardian Leaders meet in Dublin amid search for lead EU negotiator for peace talks with Russia – Europe live
- The Moscow Times Putin Agrees for Europe to Join Ukraine Peace Talks, Witkoff Says
- BBC World Zelensky backs EU role in next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks
- France 24 'Big development' in peace talks as Ukraine says Europe to join Russia negotiations
Where outlets differ
Left-leaning outlets 1
- Leaders meet in Dublin amid search for lead EU negotiator for peace talks with Russia – Europe liveThe Guardian
Only here: leaders, meet, dublin, search, lead
Centre outlets 2
- Zelensky backs EU role in next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talksBBC World
- 'Big development' in peace talks as Ukraine says Europe to join Russia negotiationsFrance 24
Only here: ukraine, zelensky, backs, role, next
Every side used: peace, talks, russia, europe
Headline columns compared word for word; nothing in them is AI-written.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Including European Union delegates could make negotiations more durable by giving a directly affected region a voice in decisions about its security and future. European participation may also help coordinate diplomatic, economic and security support for any agreement, while signalling that Ukraine’s allies remain engaged.
The case against
A broader negotiating table could make talks harder to manage and reduce the chances of reaching agreement, particularly when Russia says its territorial demands have not changed. Some may argue that the immediate priority is a workable deal between the principal parties, with European governments supporting implementation and security arrangements without taking part in the core negotiations.
Explained simply
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the war has continued despite repeated efforts to negotiate an end to it. Russian forces control about one-fifth of Ukraine, and the two sides have sharply different positions over territory and security.
Ukraine is led by President Volodymyr Zelensky; Russia is led by President Vladimir Putin. The United States has been trying to bring the countries into peace talks, while European Union leaders are concerned that any agreement could affect the security of the wider continent.
The EU is a political and economic union of European countries, rather than a party to the fighting. Its role in discussions matters because decisions about the war could have lasting consequences for European security and for Ukraine’s future.
Coverage · 4 sources
Bias meters
From 3 rated sources, 1 unrated.
- BBC WorldCentreZelensky backs EU role in next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks
- The GuardianLeftLeaders meet in Dublin amid search for lead EU negotiator for peace talks with Russia – Europe live
- The Moscow TimesPutin Agrees for Europe to Join Ukraine Peace Talks, Witkoff Says
- France 24Centre'Big development' in peace talks as Ukraine says Europe to join Russia negotiations
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Originally published by BBC World as “Zelensky welcomes US bringing Europe into Russia-Ukraine peace talks”.