Zelensky hails ‘real result’ as prisoner exchange with Russia secured

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed the agreement for a prisoner exchange with Russia as a “real result”.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner described “very intense” talks with Russia and its president Vladimir Putin in recent days, and pledged to work hard to reach US President Donald Trump’s goal of ending the war.

The three men were speaking to media in Ireland on Thursday evening.

They were involved in discussions which lasted almost an hour at Baldonnel Aerodrome, on the outskirts of Dublin, amid a heavy security presence.

Mr Zelensky said there will be “the biggest exchange of war prisoners”, adding: “Our soldiers will come home.”

“I’m very thankful to all our negotiators. This is a real result, this is very important and successful for the families and to all of us that people will come home to their families,” he said, and also welcomed progress to include European representatives will be at negotiations next week.

He added: “They will have a voice. This is important for us because the war is in Europe”.

Mr Kushner described “very intense” negotiations involving Russia in Abu Dhabi, with many hours of meetings at night and in the morning.

He also said they had had a “very detailed and productive” meeting with Mr Putin and his negotiating team.

“We were able to finalise on the prisoner of war exchange, which is a very important thing. A lot of people are being impacted by this war, and to return these thousands of people to their families I think will be a very nice milestone to achieve,” he said.

He added: “We’ve also been working very, very closely over the past several months with Europeans, and I think that that’s been very important.

“We cannot conclude this deal without the Europeans being at the table … and I think that we’re able to achieve that with President Putin.”

Mr Witkoff said President Trump is “intent on leading the charge to end this war”.

“We’ve got another meeting on the schedule, and we’re all going to work very, very hard to get to that goal,” he said.

The conflict in Ukraine dominated a major political summit in Dublin on Thursday as Mr Zelensky warned European leaders of Russia’s desire to reshape the security framework of the continent.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the EU is “potentially in a process” on negotiations in finding a peace agreement in Ukraine.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell would join the Ukrainian president for the talks with Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner, but Downing Street later said the meeting was delayed and he would no longer be able to attend.

Earlier, in an address to the European Political Community meeting – the largest ever political and diplomatic event held in Ireland – Mr Zelensky said it was important that Europe has a regular place at the negotiating table amid continued efforts to end the war.

Speaking after the conclusion of the EPC, Mr Martin rejected assertions that the US, not Europe, was the key player in peace talks.

He said: “I think the presence of Volodymyr Zelensky at the EPC underpins the value for Ukraine of the European Political Community and the sense of solidarity, support that he has received from many of the countries around the table today.

“In fact, there was a very specific meeting – the Friends of Ukraine group who met – and there is no question that the European Union and indeed the wider European political community has through its support of Ukraine been indispensable.

“President Zelensky made this point that the US and Russia know that there can be no progress in terms of the European situation or European security or long-term resolution of this issue without European input.

“Without question, if you look at financial supports, EPC member countries and defence and military support from many members of the EPC is indispensable to Ukraine.

“We are now potentially in a process on negotiations.

“I think the Americans accept there should be a European voice at the table.”

“The purpose of tonight’s meeting is to debrief President Zelensky in terms of the meeting today between President Putin, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and we will await the outcome of that.

“There is a further meeting next week in Berlin of the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine, which, from the get-go, I think has been a very significant and impactful initiative led by the UK, France, and Germany.”

President of the European Council Antonio Costa said Russia had “decided to undermine” European security “by force, culminating in the invasion of Ukraine”.

Speaking at a press conference at the Convention Centre in the Irish capital, he said: “As the pace of diplomacy accelerated, it is important to recall that the lasting peace needs to be a just peace, and the just peace, a peace that allows for security in Europe to be restored needs to be anchored in clear principles.

“First of all Ukraine is a sovereign nation, like any other nation in Europe, it must be free to choose its alliances and its partnerships.

“Europe has consigned empires and zones of influence to the dustbin of history and we will never allow for them to come to life again.

“Secondly, the future of European security cannot be discussed and decided without Europe.

“That is why the European Union, together with Nato and several European nations, is playing its role in the ongoing diplomatic efforts.”

Mr Zelensky also expressed concern at the latest speed restrictions on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite internet service over occupied parts of Ukraine where Russian drone attacks are launched from.

He told EPC delegates that the 100mph restriction was limiting Ukraine’s ability to take out the fast-moving jet-powered drones.

“This means more Russian strikes get through, and more of our people are killed, our civilians are killed by Russia,” he said.

“We are trying to get the details from the American side, but so far we know very little.

“But some things are already clear.

“If someone in America is making decisions that basically treat Ukrainian territory as if it is not Ukrainian, then this tells us where things are going.

“We need to be clear and never recognise Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory in any way.”

Arriving at the event amid high security in Dublin on Thursday morning, French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe’s support for Ukraine was critical because “there is no more US support”.

The meeting at the Convention Centre in Dublin city centre comes after Wednesday’s talks between delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the US in Abu Dhabi.

Opening the plenary meeting, Mr Martin reiterated the continent’s support for Ukraine.

“The people of Ukraine deserve a just and lasting peace,” he said.

“They deserve to determine their own future.

“They have shown themselves to be brave and strong beyond measure, and it is long past time for Russia to stop this immoral war.”

Earlier, Mr Macron told reporters it was up to Europe to define the future of its own security.

“It’s important today what we do with Ukraine and to clearly keep supporting them,” he said.

“I think it is very important as well to endorse very clear principles and commitments as Europeans in this wider Europe, which is this European Political Community, in order to make sure that we design, ourselves, our own security principles and our own architecture of security.

“I think what’s important is what we do.

“Without Europeans, there is no support for Ukraine. Let’s be honest.

“But look at the coalition of the willing.

“You have here today in Ireland probably 80% or 90% of the contribution of this coalition of the willing.

“It’s 100% of the support to Ukraine.

“We are those to support Ukraine.

“We are those to help them in this resistance war.

“There is no more US support.

“So, there is some mediation, fine, but at the end of the day, we will be the ones to define and decide for our future security as Europeans.

“I have no doubt about that.”

Around 50 heads of state as well as senior European Union officials attended the EPC.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were among those who attended the Convention Centre on Thursday morning amid the biggest security operation in the history of the Irish state.

The EPC was held in Dublin as part of Ireland’s six-month presidency of the EU Council.