Kushner Proposes Discussing European Security with Russia on the Model of the NATO–Russia Council: Europe Demands a Truce First

Washington has put forward an initiative to include the discussion of Europe's future security architecture in the negotiation process related to resolving the conflict in Ukraine. According to data from The Washington Post, cited by RBC-Ukraine, US President's special envoy Jared Kushner is exploring the possibility of expanding the diplomatic track by involving European countries in a multilateral dialogue with Moscow. The benchmark for the American envoy is the NATO–Russia Council, created after the end of the Cold War and suspended in 2014 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea.

Trilateral Meeting in Abu Dhabi: The Immediate Diplomatic Step

Before launching a broader multilateral format, the parties are preparing for a specific diplomatic event: a trilateral meeting of representatives from the US, Ukraine, and Russia, scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi. According to sources, the parties intend to discuss compromise solutions necessary to achieve a truce at this meeting. For Kyiv, one of the key issues of the upcoming round will be security guarantees, which, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, must be brought to the agenda of the UAE meeting.

Kushner's Vision: From Truce to Systemic Continent Security

In a statement published Thursday evening on the social network X, Kushner stated that if there is progress in the Abu Dhabi talks, he intends to move to a broader multilateral format with the direct participation of European countries. Among the goals of such a dialogue, he named regular security consultations, reliable communication channels in case of crises, increased military transparency, mutual measures to reduce the risk of escalation, and the creation of a basis for long-term security and stability in Europe. Thus, the American side proposes considering the truce in Ukraine not as a final point, but as a starting point for building a new containment system on the continent.

European Reservations: Truce First, Then Security Architecture

European officials confirmed their readiness for dialogue with Russia, but unanimously emphasize that discussing the new security system is possible only after a truce is achieved in Ukraine. A representative of a close US ally noted that both negotiating tracks can develop in parallel, but agreements on Ukraine must be reached earlier than the agreement on Europe's security architecture. An official from another key European country admitted that Kushner's approach carries risks, but, according to him, "it is better to participate in this process than to stay on the sidelines." He added that the negotiations will be difficult, and issues of future security can be discussed only after the end of the war.

Delegation Compositions and Key Topics

Kyiv has already determined the composition of its delegation for Abu Dhabi: it includes Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov. The Russian negotiating group will again be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, but this time he will be joined for the first time by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who is responsible, in particular, for arms control and non-proliferation issues. Moscow will also be represented by high-ranking General Staff representative Yuri Zhigarlovsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, and military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov. The breadth of representation along the defense and intelligence lines indicates that the topic of security guarantees and escalation control mechanisms will become a central element of the agenda.

Context and Prospects

Despite the support for Kushner's diplomatic efforts by key European leaders, a broad consensus has formed among European countries regarding the necessary sequence: first a truce in Ukraine, and then negotiations with Russia on continental security. Thus, ahead of the Abu Dhabi meeting, the diplomatic process finds itself at the intersection of two trajectories: the American one, focused on simultaneously building multilateral containment mechanisms, and the European one, insisting on a strict sequence. The results of the two-day talks in the UAE will most likely determine whether it will be possible to combine these approaches or whether the divergence in positions will hinder the transition to a multilateral format.