Scoop: U.S. asks Russia to propose new security agreement with Europe
The U.S. has asked Russia to submit a new proposal for a future security agreement with Europe that includes Russian steps to ease tension with the continent, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. Why it matters: For years, Russia has sought a European security deal that limits NATO expansion and scales back its military presence in Eastern Europe. The U.S. has rejected those demands in…
The United States has requested Russia draft a proposal for a new security agreement with Europe, aimed at easing tensions and addressing Russian concerns, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The U.S. administration, under President Trump, is open to such demands as part of a broader effort to end the conflict in Ukraine. However, European governments remain skeptical of the U.S. approach.
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday to push for the Russian proposal. They also intend to persuade Putin to allow European representatives to join upcoming Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Following their Moscow meeting, Kushner and Witkoff will travel to Dublin for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
This marks the first time Ukrainian and Russian officials have met with U.S. mediators since February, when talks were halted due to the Iran conflict. Recent interactions between Kushner, Witkoff, and Putin, as well as Zelensky, have generated some progress. Putin agreed to resume peace talks and release U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard, who was detained by Russia in 2022. Additionally, Kushner and Witkoff brokered a humanitarian ceasefire in the city of Oleshky.
The Abu Dhabi talks commenced on Tuesday, with Kushner, Witkoff, and U.S. European Command commander General Alexus Grynkewich mediating between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators. The parties reached an agreement on a prisoner exchange deal, which could prove significant given the ongoing war. Exact numbers for the prisoner releases will be determined during subsequent meetings with Putin and Zelensky on Thursday.
Prior to and following the talks, U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators briefed a delegation of senior diplomats from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the European Union, and NATO. The discussions between Russia and Ukraine were emotionally charged, as both sides expressed grievances after nine months of no direct communication. Kushner and Witkoff attempted to ease tensions, emphasizing the goal of concluding the talks with viable options for all parties involved.
A key element of the U.S. proposal is for Russia to draft a new security agreement with Europe that includes Russian security concerns and corresponding steps to de-escalate the situation and reassure Europe that Russia will not attack in the future. Moreover, U.S. officials suggested that European representatives should be permitted to participate in future peace talks, provided Russia agrees to take similar de-escalation measures.
Written by urgent.news from Axios's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
