Witkoff and Kushner to meet Putin and Zelensky this week
US envoys travel to Moscow and Dublin to follow up on Abu Dhabi discussions, while European leaders gather to define their role in the peace process.
By Amit Chukwu ·
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday. The two American envoys are seeking to build on momentum from two days of talks held in Abu Dhabi.
Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to fly to Moscow first for a meeting with Putin. They will then travel to Dublin to brief Zelensky, who is attending a gathering of European leaders in the Irish capital.
Zelensky stated that a window of opportunity may exist to end the conflict before 2027. He expressed hope that the American delegation would return to Dublin with specific proposals after their meeting in Russia.
The Ukrainian leader noted that he remained skeptical but hopeful. He emphasized the importance of the US bringing concrete details to the Russian side. He said he would like the Americans to bring those same specifics back to Dublin.
European leaders will discuss their role in the negotiations at their Dublin meeting on Thursday. Kyiv and Washington have previously called on the European bloc to select a dedicated representative for the talks.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told AFP on Wednesday that Europe does not need to appoint a new envoy. He said that the necessary personnel are already in place. He identified European Council head Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas as the representatives for Europe.
Russian management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant reported that a Ukrainian drone strike killed an employee on Wednesday. The worker was killed in his home in southeastern Ukraine after finishing his shift. This is the 15th employee killed at the facility since April.
The plant, which is Europe's largest with six reactors, has been under Russian control since the first weeks of the invasion in February 2022. The town of Enerhodar, where many staff members live, has faced frequent attacks. Plant management said that living conditions in Enerhodar are directly linked to the safety of the nuclear facility.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi showed that the US, Ukraine, and Europe are aligned. He noted that the discussions demonstrated unity among the partners. Kyiv and Moscow also agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange on the final day of the Abu Dhabi talks, though neither side provided a specific number.
A Russian strike on a busy market in Ukraine's southern Odesa region killed three people and injured 11 others, according to the regional governor. The attack occurred on Wednesday. Explosions were also reported in Kyiv as the diplomatic efforts continued.
