US envoys meet Putin and Zelenskyy as trilateral talks shift focus to European security

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow before traveling to Ireland to confer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following two days of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi. While negotiations concluded without a definitive breakthrough to end the conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the discussions as "very productive," noting that significant work remains.

Talks have increasingly focused on post-war continental security arrangements to reduce friction between Russia and NATO allies. U.S. and Ukrainian representatives confirmed that European delegates will directly participate in future negotiation rounds. Ukrainian and European officials maintained that a durable peace agreement requires European participation at the negotiating table.

Sources: BBC News, France24, Politico Europe (Defense), Sweden Herald, The Guardian.