U.S. is Asking Russia For a Clear Proposal to End the War. It Could Alter NATO Presence In Eastern Europe.

The U.S. is requesting a security proposal from Russia regarding Europe as part of talks meant to end the war in Ukraine.

Axios reported that such a proposal could address any future NATO expansions and scale back the treaty organization's military presence in eastern Europe. The U.S. has rejected tying NATO to ending the war in Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian and Russian officials met with U.S. officials in hopes of paving the way for some sort of peace agreement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the U.S. approach was "strange" during an address at the European Political Community Summit.

"When the Americans and Russians talk about security, it's not just about security guarantees for Ukraine. In fact, it's more about some kind of new security framework between Europe and Russia," Zelenskyy said. "We find this approach a bit strange. Because for 30 years after the Soviet Union collapsed, Europe treated Russia well."

Zelenskyy said that Europe opened up trade with Russia, attempted to establish positive relations with Russia, and encouraged cooperation with Russia.

"Putin's wars are really about only his attitude toward others – not some kind of permanent confrontation with Europe that was impossible to avoid. But still, we hear what we hear today," Zelenskyy said.

Axios reported that the talks earlier this week with U.S. mediators between Ukrainian and Russian officials were tense. The talks reportedly ended on a relatively positive note, however.

Kushner described the talks as "tough."

"We told the Russians, they have their desires and fears, but they have to provide different de-escalation and different proposals as well, if they want Europe to be able to receive those proposals in a good way," Kushner said at a press conference.

On Wednesday, the talks ended with an agreement for a prisoner exchange.

"One of the positives is we agreed that we're going to have the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, which we're going to finalize the numbers tomorrow," Kushner said, following the completion of talks in Abu Dhabi.