Kushner Calls Ukraine’s Potential ‘Incredible’ After Dublin Talks

U.S. envoy Jared Kushner spoke to reporters at Casement Aerodrome west of Dublin late Thursday, after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and hours after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

“The potential of Ukraine is incredible,” Kushner said. “The postwar plans that we’re working on are really incredible.” He said Washington is working “very closely” with Kyiv on that plan and on postwar security “for Ukraine and for the region.”

Washington Focuses on Ukraine’s Postwar Future

Kushner framed reconstruction and security as the core of the American effort with Ukraine. He did not announce a completed reconstruction package or a peace agreement.

The remarks followed U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, which closed on November 11 with no major breakthrough. Those were the first direct discussions between the sides in nine months.

Europe Secures Role in Next Negotiations

Kushner said Europe’s presence at the next round was a condition of any deal. “We cannot conclude this deal without the Europeans being at the table,” he said. “We’ve been telling Putin that we believe that’s very important.” He said Putin was “willing to give it a try.”

Zelensky said European representatives would sit on the negotiating team and “will have a voice,” not in separate talks. “This is important to us, because the war is in Europe,” he said. He also said Europe would be present “next time, next week.” Witkoff said another round was scheduled but gave no date or venue. Who will represent Europe, and in what format, has not been settled.

The stop coincided with a European Political Community summit in Ireland, where French President Emmanuel Macron also addressed U.S. support for Ukraine.

Largest Prisoner Exchange Under Discussion

Kushner said the sides had been able to finalize work on a prisoner of war exchange and that bringing “these thousands of people to their families” would be “a very nice milestone to achieve.” He later wrote on X that they were working toward the largest prisoner exchange of the war, “potentially reuniting thousands,” with no number or timeline.

Zelensky called it “the biggest exchange of war prisoners yet” and a “real result,” saying “our soldiers will come home.” No final headcount or schedule has been announced.

Dublin Meeting Follows Kremlin Talks

The envoys’ plane landed at the Irish military airfield around 8:40 p.m. Talks with Zelensky began shortly before 9 p.m. and lasted just under an hour. Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s lead negotiator and foreign intelligence chief, also attended.

The meeting followed the Kremlin talks earlier on November 12. Kushner has said significant differences remain, particularly over territory. A prisoner exchange can move forward separately from a comprehensive settlement.