In a single Thursday, two American envoys managed to sit with both of the men whose positions define the war. Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in Moscow, then flew to Dublin to see Volodymyr Zelensky. The two meetings produced opposite impressions: Mr Putin said Russia's stance, including its demand for territory, had not changed, while Mr Zelensky left with something he has sought for years. The envoys pledged that delegates from the European Union would join the next round of negotiations.

The promise matters less for what it settles than for what it signals. Europe has watched anxiously as Washington's commitment to continental security has appeared to waver and its tone towards the Kremlin to soften. Mr Kushner insisted the United States had worked "very, very closely" with Europeans and said he had stressed to Mr Putin the importance of having them at the table. "He's willing to give it a try," he added.

Moscow has so far been dismissive of European involvement, so the Russian leader's reported willingness may prove tentative. For Kyiv, the logic is straightforward: a country that hopes eventually to join the EU should not see its future decided without the bloc. For Europeans, the stakes are existential. Ireland's Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, told leaders gathered in Dublin that many member states feel threatened by the prospect of further aggression if Ukraine were to fall.