Why Kyiv Invited European Advisors to Witkoff-Kushner Talks

Ukraine included European representatives in talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to prevent pressure on Kyiv behind closed doors, according to political expert Yevhen Mahda. Mahda said the US envoys' initial trip to Moscow showed Washington prioritizes negotiations with Russia, but Ukraine will not make concessions. European security advisors can counter US pressure because they understand the negative consequences of any concessions for their own countries. Witkoff and Kushner visited Moscow on September 5 and Kyiv on September 6, meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and officials from Britain, Germany, and France. Zelenskyy stated Ukraine is ready for trilateral talks, with the ball now in Russia's court.