Steve Witkoff says Vladimir Putin accepted the participation of European representatives in the next round of Ukraine peace talks. If formally adopted, that would be a meaningful change to who is in the room. For now, however, it is the US envoy’s account, not a negotiation format publicly set out by Moscow.
Digi24 reported that Witkoff made the statement after Thursday’s meeting with Putin at the Kremlin. Moscow had not officially announced European participation. The report also said Putin asked Washington to consult its allies over whether they wanted peace or the war to continue.
The distinction matters because Europe’s place in the talks is not merely ceremonial. The discussions addressed security guarantees for Ukraine, and Russia and European states still hold divergent positions on those guarantees, according to the report carried by Digi24. An invitation without agreed roles, an agenda and a security framework does not settle the dispute likely to shape any later deal.
There is a reasonable counterargument: Witkoff’s statement may indicate that talks have progressed far enough for a European format to be under consideration. But unless the Kremlin sets out its own position on participants and terms, the announcement cannot be treated as an agreed architecture for the next round.
The immediate issue is procedural, but consequential. Those at the table will influence how guarantees for Ukraine are debated. The available report did not state a date, location or list of representatives for the next meeting.
Sources
- Digi24 · Source date: 2026-11-13
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-13