US Envoys Meet Zelensky After Putin Rejects Compromise

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday to brief him on talks with Vladimir Putin, after the Russian leader signaled he will not compromise on his demands to control parts of Ukraine. Putin ruled out watering down his claims to annexed Ukrainian territory and rejected foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, calling such a deployment a "continuation of war." The envoys had held two days of talks in Abu Dhabi before visiting Moscow, where they urged Putin to allow European representatives at the next round of negotiations. Zelensky said fresh restrictions on the Starshield satellite internet service, key to frontline communications, hamper Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian jet-drones, resulting in more deaths. European leaders gathered in Dublin insisted that "any matter affecting European security should be decided with the Europeans," while Macron urged a "clear and united vision" on Ukraine talks.