TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN said a European representative who would take part in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine should be decided within a week or two.

Arriving at the Convention Centre in Dublin this morning, where EU leaders are to take part in an informal meeting, the Taoiseach welcomed Thursday night’s meeting between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and two US envoys.

“There was quite substantive engagement yesterday on Ukraine,” he said, adding that talks are ongoing and there will be a further round of talks.

Zelenskyy met envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff at Baldonnel in west Dublin to receive an update on their talks with Russia during a visit to Moscow on Thursday.

Both sides said Russia had accepted plans to exchange prisoners of war.

The Taoiseach said it is hoped that there will be a “strong transfer or swap” of prisoners between the two warring countries.

“I think it is now clear that Europe will be at the talks, and the discussions today will focus perhaps both on the content and the type of peace that Europe wants to secure a sustainable peace, and there will be discussion, obviously, in terms of who represents Europe.”

Martin dismissed a suggestion that he may be that person. He said that he hopes discussions today will bring clarity around this, and it is his view that the matter needs to be “finally decided upon” within the next week or two.

Kushner, a son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, told the gathered media at Baldonnel that the US has been working very closely with Europe over recent months.

He said, “We cannot conclude this deal without the Europeans being at the table”, and that Russia is “willing to give it a try”.

Questioned on the future funding of Ukraine, and how Europe plans to continue with this, Martin said that discussions on this should be “more pragmatic” and “we can’t waste as much time on it”.

“What is clear is Ukraine will need clarity for 2027. Our partners will need clarity for 2027.

“The sooner that happens, the better, because it sends a very strong signal that Europe is there for the long haul, for Ukraine, which then has a consequential impact on talks and on perhaps concentrating minds everywhere in terms of bringing this war.”