Kushner looks to NATO-Russia Council model for Europe’s postwar security

US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is exploring the NATO-Russia Council as a framework for future discussions on Europe's postwar security, according to a report by The Washington Post on November 6. A source close to the negotiations confirmed that Kushner was utilizing the NATO-Russia Council, created post-Cold War but suspended in 2014 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, as a blueprint.

European officials expressed willingness to engage with Russia, provided a ceasefire in Ukraine was achieved. One message from a U.S. ally warned that "a peace agreement on Ukraine must be reached before an agreement on the security architecture." A senior European official cautioned that "this approach carries many risks for us, but it is better to be involved than to stay out. Our position remains unchanged: These issues can only be discussed after the war ends. The negotiations will not be easy."

The Post also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin showed enthusiasm for the pan-European security plan during a meeting with Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on October 21, where Kushner participated via video link. On November 6, Kushner stated that the US was collaborating with Ukraine, NATO, and European allies to create a framework for a comprehensive European security architecture, while retaining each country's sovereign right to select its alliances.

From November 4 to 5, Ukrainian, US, and European representatives met in Brussels to discuss postwar reconstruction, economic growth, and security assurances in Ukraine. Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, who attended the meetings, said they were a follow-up to talks in Florida and Oslo.