On the evening of Thursday, November 12, 2026, U.S. Presidential Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Ireland and began negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting is taking place at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, a suburb of Dublin. This is the second, "Ukrainian" leg of a diplomatic marathon conducted by the U.S. delegation within a single day: earlier that same day, Witkoff and Kushner were in Moscow, where they held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Chronology of the Diplomatic Marathon
The actions of the American envoys are part of a broader negotiation cycle. According to sources, two-day trilateral consultations between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. mediated by the American side took place in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. Following these meetings, Moscow and Kyiv reportedly reached an in-principle agreement on a large-scale prisoner of war exchange, although specific parameters are still being finalized. On November 12, the Americans first flew to Moscow, and on the evening of the same day flew to Ireland, where their meeting with Zelenskyy had been announced. Thus, in a single day, Trump's special envoys held rounds of talks with the two key parties to the conflict.
What Was Discussed in Moscow
According to reports, the main topic of conversation in Moscow was the settlement of the war in Ukraine and the outcomes of the Abu Dhabi consultations. Witkoff noted that a constructive atmosphere prevailed in Abu Dhabi and that the prisoner exchange agreement indicates the parties are moving toward a broader deal. Kushner, in turn, pointed out that territorial issues remain one of the main obstacles to a peace agreement. The American side, according to sources, proposed involving the European side in the negotiation process, since its agenda, in their assessment, goes beyond the framework of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and touches upon broader European security issues.
Format of the Meeting in Dublin
The negotiations in Ireland are being held in a closed format at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. According to several media outlets, the building where the talks are taking place is under heavy guard, with about two dozen Ukrainian and foreign journalists working at the scene. Press statements are expected after the meeting concludes. No public details regarding the content of the conversation with Zelenskyy were published at the time of this writing.
Expectations and Next Steps
The American representatives, according to their own statements, are counting on a new round of talks involving Europe. Witkoff stated that the next trilateral round with Europeans might be announced as early as the outcome of the Moscow meeting, while Kushner reported the start of discussions with European partners on building a security architecture on the continent. According to Russian media, a potential new humanitarian truce was also discussed in Moscow. The results of the Dublin round with Zelenskyy could determine whether such a European-involved round will be announced in the near future.
