Ukraine Warupdated 1h ago3 min read
Archive photo · 6 September 2026Kushner Seeks Direct Europe-Russia Talks on Ukraine, Zelenskiy Rejects Donbas Concessions
4 Western Mainstream2 West AsianPhoto: The White House / US federal government, Public domain · Cropped for layout
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Kushner says US facilitating direct Europe–Russia talks for Ukraine peace. Europe seeks envoy to represent them; fears sidelining in US-led peace talks.
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Kushner seeks direct talks
US envoy Jared Kushner said his focus is on facilitating direct contact between Russia and European countries regarding the war in Ukraine, two days after a trilateral round of negotiations in Abu Dhabi involving Ukraine and Russia with American mediation. Kushner said he is seeking new ideas and proposals to bring views closer together, overcome remaining differences, and stressed that “a lasting peace requires reliable security guarantees for Ukraine, and arrangements to prevent renewed war.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said US negotiators asked during the Abu Dhabi talks whether Ukraine would withdraw from the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine in exchange for joining NATO, and Zelenskiy reiterated his rejection of any concessions of Ukrainian territory.
Zelenskiy said that if Ukraine obtains a comprehensive security package, he will put the issue to a referendum, while the Donbas region remains a battleground between Ukrainian forces and Moscow-backed separatists since 2014. European Council President Antonio Costa said EU leaders agreed the European peace talks on Ukraine should comprise five major powers, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland, along with European Union institutions.
Macron attacks aid cuts
French President Emmanuel Macron criticized calls to cut aid to Ukraine, saying those who want to limit the aid available to Ukraine seek to force it to accept an unfair peace. Macron said in a post on his X account that this pursuit “prepares the next war, and this cannot be France’s position,” and he added that helping Ukraine defend itself means protecting France and the French. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov argued that for Europe to join peace talks, it first must name a representative, and Peskov said, “The Europeans squabble like spiders in a jar.”
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said at a summit in Dublin that “This needs to be resolved,” and he said he would hope discussions bring clarity around Europe’s representation within the next week or two. European leaders also debated whether Europe should be represented by one person or a team, with senior EU officials and politicians suggested but no consensus reached.
Europe’s role and risks
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova contradicted US envoy Jared Kushner by saying, “As far as Russia's Foreign Ministry is aware, the issue was not discussed during the talks with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow.” European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU will take part in future peace talks and will jointly represent Europe with France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK, and Costa said, “Europe must speak with one clear voice and united voice.” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said no clear explanations have been given for recent speed issues with Starshield, and Zelenskyy said the connections were only working when devices were moving slower than 161 kilometres (100 miles) per hour.
Zelenskyy said this makes it impossible, in particular, to use interceptors against jet-powered 'Shaheds,' and he said he instructed his ministers to step up contacts with the US side. The Guardian’s account of Russian demands included a reported request that Nato should not have any bases in the Baltics and that Finland, which joined in 2023, should be made to leave the alliance, while Finland’s defence minister Antti Häkkänen said, “These matters are not up for negotiation.”