US Envoys Kushner and Witkoff to Meet Zelenskyy in Dublin Following Russia Talks

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin this week following trilateral, US-brokered negotiations in Abu Dhabi.

Dublin hosts high-stakes diplomatic meetings

President Zelensky landed at Baldonnell military air base shortly before 4:15 pm today. He is in Ireland to attend the European Political Community (EPC) summit at the Convention Centre, where approximately 50 heads of state are expected to gather tomorrow. The summit will also involve a bilateral meeting between the Ukrainian president and Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Government Buildings this evening.

Kushner and Witkoff are expected to arrive in Dublin tonight after holding talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin. These meetings follow two days of intense negotiations in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. The US envoys intend to debrief the Ukrainian leadership on the discussions held in the Middle East and explore potential ideas for progress.

“We are meeting them tomorrow in Dublin,” Mr Zelensky said on social media, adding that “Ukraine’s priority is to end the war as quickly as possible.” Approximately 50 European leaders, including Mr Zelensky, are meeting in Dublin this week as part of Ireland’s EU Presidency.

Security and logistical challenges in the capital

The arrival of world leaders has necessitated the largest policing operation in the State’s history. An Garda Síochána has deployed over 1,000 armed tactical officers and public order gardaí, with more than 5,000 personnel involved in the city-wide security effort. Commissioner Justin Kelly said that the force is managing multiple risks, including public order concerns and potential hybrid attacks.

Extensive traffic restrictions and road closures are in place across the city. Rolling closures affect routes between Dublin Airport, Casement Aerodrome, and the city center, with the Samuel Beckett Bridge scheduled for closure from 8 pm this evening. Authorities have also imposed temporary airspace restrictions across Dublin from 9 am Wednesday until midday Saturday.

Officials seek progress on security architecture and prisoner exchanges

While officials have reported some momentum, the path to a resolution remains complex. “We see some openings and some opportunities” to make progress on unresolved issues, Kushner told reporters. Both Moscow and Kyiv have confirmed that a large-scale prisoner of war exchange is currently in development.

“I believe the Russians came with very strict directives, so it was extremely difficult to soften the discussion,” he said.

The talks are focused on the future security architecture of Europe. For Kyiv, this may include reassurances that allies will come to its aid if Ukraine comes under attack again; for Moscow, it is likely to include a limit to NATO influence in Eastern Europe. The current lack of trust between the two sides makes these discussions difficult.

“These deals are very hard and complex, and this one is very emotional, very complex,” Kushner said. Earlier this week, Kushner said the US hoped to “create a new framework” of security between Ukraine, Russia and Europe that could “secure lasting peace”, while Kremlin negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said the world needed a “new” and “fair” security system.

The broader diplomatic environment has been complicated by a series of hoax threats targeting schools, media organizations, and airlines across Ireland, the UK, and Italy. Despite these disruptions, the EPC summit is set to proceed with plenary sessions and closed-door panel discussions, with the security situation in Ukraine set to dominate.