Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Dublin on Wednesday ahead of a European Political Community (EPC) summit and a scheduled meeting with U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
The Ukrainian leader landed at Baldonnell shortly before 4:15 p.m. to begin a high-stakes diplomatic schedule, according to The Journal.
The visit follows two days of U.S.-brokered negotiations in Abu Dhabi, where Ukrainian and Russian delegations met to discuss an end to the nearly five-year war. While the talks resulted in an agreement for a prisoner exchange, negotiators reported that differences remain regarding territorial disputes and peace terms, CNN reported.
"We are meeting them tomorrow in Dublin," Mr. Zelenskyy said on social media, noting that his primary objective is to conclude the war as quickly as possible, as reported by RTÉ. Mr. Kushner confirmed the envoys would travel to Moscow first to meet with Russian President Putin before heading to Ireland to debrief the Ukrainian president.
Our team reported on the results of the meetings in Abu Dhabi with the American and Russian sides, as well as the coordination with European partners present in the Emirates. First, there is an important humanitarian arrangement regarding preparations for a new exchange. Second,… pic.twitter.com/N1ql7Yn2Z6
"We’re going to fly to Dublin and we’re going to be with President Zelenskyy to debrief with him and further explore some of the ideas that we came up with here today," Mr. Kushner told reporters in Abu Dhabi. He added that the team sees "some openings and some opportunities" to make progress on unresolved issues.
He stated:
🔴 #LIVE: Statement by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinskiy, head of the Russian delegation, following the talks in Abu Dhabi 🔗 https://t.co/QZzmcoG7ZZ
"Every inch of our land will be returned to Russia, one way or another," Vladimir Medinsky, the hardline Russian official who led Moscow’s delegation.
Security and Diplomatic Stakes in Dublin
During his stay, President Zelenskyy is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Government buildings to discuss EU support for Ukraine and the prospect of EU enlargement, RTÉ reported. The Ukrainian president will also attend the EPC meeting at the National Convention Centre on Thursday.
The EPC, established in 2022 following the Russian invasion, serves as a forum for political dialogue among European leaders. While the Abu Dhabi talks focused on humanitarian relief and prisoner exchanges, the US envoys are working to push for the inclusion of European countries in the negotiations.
CNN reported that Moscow has resisted a multilateral format, though Ukrainian negotiators have consistently argued that Europe must be represented at all stages of substantive diplomacy. Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s foreign intelligence chief and top negotiator, noted progress on security matters but cautioned that "significant differences" remain.
Traffic and Security Restrictions
The arrival of approximately 50 European leaders has triggered security measures across Dublin. According to RTÉ, rolling road closures between Dublin Airport, Casement Aerodrome, and the city center are expected to cause the most disruption between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Thursday.
A security cordon has been in place around the National Gallery on Merrion Square since 7 a.m. Wednesday. The Samuel Beckett Bridge is scheduled to close at 8 p.m. this evening as restrictions extend to the area surrounding the Convention Centre.
When I received the second report from our negotiating team after their meetings in Abu Dhabi, they told me that the Russians think and say they have already occupied half of Donbas, which remains under our control. These were military officers, Russian intelligence, and they… pic.twitter.com/bs1c7blV1p
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the meeting between the U.S. envoys and President Zelenskyy take place?
While the meeting is confirmed for Thursday in Dublin, the exact time and location have not been publicly disclosed, according to The Journal.
What was the outcome of the Abu Dhabi negotiations?
The talks resulted in an agreement for the "largest prisoner exchange" of the war, expected to involve more than 1,000 individuals from each side, according to The Guardian. The exchange was confirmed by Vladimir Medinsky and Rustem Umerov. However, both sides confirmed that no breakthrough was reached regarding the ongoing territorial dispute.
💬 FM #Lavrov: After the talks in Abu Dhabi, US negotiators will brief President #Putin in Moscow. He’ll also hear from Vladimir Medinskiy’s team. ☝️ The course we take will be geared towards achieving the objectives of the special military operation.https://t.co/C6sdZ9kOz8 pic.twitter.com/yA1VPpgpGB
The summit provides a venue for European leaders to address issues of common interest, specifically focusing on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and security cooperation, RTÉ reported.
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