“Zodra we hun oprechte intenties en hun bereidheid zien om bij te dragen aan het vredesproces, kunnen we beslissen of we een dialoog over een regeling voor Oekraïne in een uitgebreidere samenstelling zullen voeren,” Kremlinwoordvoerder Peskov zei vandaag.
This statement from the Kremlin means that Russia has not yet committed to European participation in the next round of peace talks. The comment comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Europe would be joining the negotiations, following meetings with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Dublin.
The American delegation traveled to Dublin after speaking earlier in the day with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. In the days prior, Witkoff and Kushner had also negotiated with representatives from Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi to end the war.
American Backing for European Involvement
Shortly after the meeting with Putin in the Kremlin, Witkoff hinted that European representatives would participate in future peace talks. “Het zijn onze partners, en het is belangrijk dat ze erbij betrokken zijn,” zei Witkoff tegen journalisten.
/s3/static.nrc.nl/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/13001807/AFP_D7C63VQ.jpg "Photo: NRC")
Kushner reinforced this point in Dublin, stating that agreements cannot be reached without Europeans at the table. “We hebben president Poetin verteld dat we dat erg belangrijk vinden,” Kushner added.
Zelensky has long advocated for a greater role for Europe in the peace negotiations. For Europe, participation is necessary as an ally of Ukraine and because of fears that the United States might negotiate away European interests without consultation.
Kremlin’s Stance and EU Response
Buitenlandchef van de EU, Kallas, stated today that Russia does not decide who represents the EU in peace talks. “Ze willen geen sterke partij tegenover zich omdat ze hun maximale eisen willen doordrukken,” zei Kallas.
EU members are discussing who should represent the bloc. President of the European Council António Costa noted that different topics may require different representatives.
For territorial issues, only Ukraine can negotiate; for security guarantees, the “coalition of the willing” is appropriate; and for Ukraine’s EU membership and economic future, the EU itself is the only suitable partner, Costa explained. Irish Premier Micheál Martin agreed, emphasizing the need for Europe to speak with a single, cohesive voice.
Russia’s Red Lines and Military Actions
The Kremlin has opposed direct European involvement in the vredesonderhandelingen over Oekraïne, viewing EU nations as active combatants due to their support for Kyiv.
Onderhandelingen volgen volgende week
The next round of negotiations is planned for next week, though an exact date and location have not yet been announced, NRC reported.
„De Europeanen zullen een stem hebben. Dat is belangrijk voor ons, omdat de oorlog zich in Europa afspeelt,” zei hij tijdens een kort persmoment samen met de Amerikaanse onderhandelaars.
Wie vertegenwoordigt de EU en wat zijn de voorwaarden?
Who will represent the EU in the talks?
It has not been decided who will represent Europe. EU Council António Costa suggested different representatives for different topics, such as territorial issues, security guarantees, and EU membership.
What is Russia’s main condition for Europe’s participation?
Russia has said it is open to European participation only if it sees Europe’s “sincere intentions and willingness to contribute to the peace process,” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
When is the next round of negotiations?
The next round of negotiations is expected to take place next week, but an exact date and location have not been set, NRC reported.
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