In a recent development, representatives from Ukraine and three EU nations are aligning strategies for future negotiations with Russia. This follows a visit to Kyiv by U.S. officials Steve Vitkoff and Jared Kushner on September 6. The trip included discussions with Emmanuel Bonne, security advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, regarding their recent conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to reports, Vitkoff and Kushner indicated that after the upcoming State Duma elections in Russia, scheduled for September 18-20, there may be a renewed willingness from Russia to engage in negotiations. This context has prompted discussions about the next phase of diplomatic efforts.
During a joint conversation with national security advisors from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, U.S. representatives did not specify the parameters of these potential negotiations, which Russia is reportedly open to. Meanwhile, European nations, in coordination with Ukraine, laid out their list of demands. These include security guarantees, territorial integrity for Ukraine, and the continuation of sanctions against Russia.
The representatives from the EU have agreed to maintain ongoing communication and collaborate closely with Ukraine to establish clear negotiation terms. The goal is to achieve a sustainable and lasting peace for Ukraine, as indicated in the reports.
Context
- On September 5, Vitkoff and Kushner visited Moscow, where they met with Putin. According to Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov, the U.S. officials presented a “range of considerations” regarding potential pathways to resolve the conflict. However, Reuters reported that no significant breakthroughs were achieved during the over three-hour meeting. The next day, they arrived in Kyiv, marking their first visit to Ukraine.
- During a press conference in Kyiv on September 6, Vitkoff stated that Washington aims to return to a trilateral negotiation format involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia.
- Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov referred to the meeting between the Kremlin leader and the U.S. representatives as a “small step toward peace,” adding that the Kremlin does not rule out the resumption of trilateral discussions with the U.S. and Ukraine.
