The path to resolving the Ukraine conflict appears to hinge on the participation of European nations in upcoming negotiations, according to Jared Kushner, the US special presidential envoy. This assessment emerged from discussions between Kushner and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, which were conducted following trilateral talks involving Russia, the US, and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.
During the Moscow meeting, which lasted approximately 2.5 hours, Kushner relayed the message that achieving a resolution is impossible without engaging European partners. The discussions centered on Russia's position, conveyed by Putin, that the US should collaborate with Europe to help determine whether Europeans favor peace or war. This stance highlights the mutual recognition between the two sides that transatlantic engagement is a necessary component of any lasting settlement.
The recent diplomatic sequence—moving from Abu Dhabi to Moscow—underscores the evolving complexity of the peace process. By emphasizing the need for Europe to clarify its preferences, the Russian side frames the European role not just as a stakeholder but as a deciding factor in the nature of the final agreement. Consequently, the US delegation’s focus on securing European buy-in suggests that the diplomatic architecture of the resolution will require a unified approach from the transatlantic community, with the coming weeks likely to see increased pressure on European capitals to define their position clearly.
This stance highlights the mutual recognition between the two sides that transatlantic engagement is a necessary component of any lasting settlement.