Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Trump, wrote today: "Following the conclusion of the tripartite talks and subsequent consultations with Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy, my team of U.S. peace envoys has maintained close coordination with Russia, Ukraine, and European partners to discuss next steps.
Our current focus is advancing direct engagement between Moscow and European counterparts, as well as preparing the agenda for the next round of tripartite discussions.
Several new proposals have emerged during these consultations, which are now under evaluation. Some may lead directly to breakthroughs, while others will evolve gradually into new formulations aimed at bridging existing gaps.
As President Trump has made clear, a durable peace requires credible security guarantees for Ukraine, along with detailed, implementable post-conflict security arrangements designed to reduce the risk of renewed conflict. The NATO alliance remains central to European security, and strengthening military, communication, de-escalation, and reciprocal reduction mechanisms will establish practical frameworks capable of addressing disputes before they escalate into crises. This is also why we are encouraging direct involvement by European partners in the negotiation process. Any final agreement must be acceptable to all relevant parties; President Trump will only support proposals that enhance the security of Ukraine and Europe while reducing the likelihood of future conflict.
The media has reported on each side’s highest demands and firm political statements. Yet in private discussions, both sides recognize that ending this war will require pragmatic compromises. Those committed to finding solutions continue serious, constructive work.
The human cost of this war has been immense, and the complexity of the issues far exceeds expectations. Nevertheless, we remain determined to advance difficult efforts, uphold the confidentiality essential to sensitive negotiations, and identify a path toward ending this brutal conflict and building lasting peace."
Commentary: The underlying calculus is clear: leveraging the Ukraine-Russia negotiations to shape the broader European security order. The United States seeks to draw Europe into shared responsibility, avoiding sole burden of accountability, while guiding both Ukraine and Russia toward concessions. Under the framework of NATO, a post-war European security architecture is being designed to conclude this protracted conflict swiftly—reducing strain on American domestic inflation, electoral dynamics, and resource allocation—while preserving U.S. dominance in Europe.
The approach of the Trump administration reflects transactional diplomacy: maintaining discreet channels with both Ukraine and Russia, introducing ambiguous proposals to test red lines, bringing European actors into the process to share security responsibilities. Publicly affirming NATO's role as the cornerstone of European security and emphasizing the need for Ukraine's security assurances, while privately pressuring both sides to lower their maximalist positions, pushing them toward compromise on territorial and accession issues. Throughout, the process is kept largely confidential to avoid public interference.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881884686430538/
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