US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday, seeking to build on two days of talks in Abu Dhabi. Zelensky said a window of opportunity could emerge to end the war before 2027, as Europe pushes for a role in negotiations. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Europe doesn't need new representative for Ukraine-Russia talks: Estonia PM
Europe does not need to pick a new envoy for Ukraine-Russia talks, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told AFP on Wednesday, after Kyiv and Washington called on the bloc to choose a representative.
"I would say that we already have agreed on the persons," Michal said on the eve of a gathering of European leaders in Dublin where the issue will dominate their talks, adding that European Council head Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas would represent Europe.
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant worker killed in drone strike, Russian management says
A Ukrainian drone strike killed an employee of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in his home in southeastern Ukraine, the 15th to be killed since April amid frequent attacks in the area, the plant's Russian management said on Wednesday.
Russia seized the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, in the first weeks of Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and each side has since regularly accused the other of military actions liable to endanger nuclear safety.
The town of Enerhodar, where many of the plant's staff live, has also come under frequent attack.
A statement issued by the plant's management said the employee was killed at home after finishing his shift.
"The Ukrainian armed forces are continuing to strike homes in Enerhodar and nearby villages," it said.
"The fatigue from the nonstop shelling and its aftermath is growing rapidly. Living conditions in Enerhodar are directly linked to safety at the Zaporizhzhia plant."
Explosions heard in Kyiv
Kushner and Witkoff to meet with Putin and Zelensky
US envoys will separately meet Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday as they seek to seize "openings" from two days of talks in Abu Dhabi on ending the Ukraine war.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel first to Moscow to meet the Russian president, before flying to Dublin – where Zelensky will attend European meetings – to debrief the Ukrainian leader.
Arriving in Ireland, Zelensky said there could be a "window of opportunity" to end Europe's worst conflict since World War II before 2027.
"What's important is that the Americans flew to Putin with specifics. I would very much like them to return to Dublin with specifics," he said, adding that while he was still sceptical "there is hope".
Welcome to the France 24 liveblog covering diplomatic talks between Russia and Ukraine. You can catch up on yesterday's key developments here.
Yesterday's key developments:
• Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange as the final day of peace talks in Abu Dhabi came to an end, though neither side gave a concrete figure.
• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the US-mediated Ukraine-Russia peace talks showed that the US, Ukraine and Europe were "aligned and united".
• A Russian strike on a busy market in Ukraine's southern Odesa region killed three people and injured 11 others, the regional governor said.