Trump assembles unconventional team for negotiations in Russia to advance Ukraine peace deal

In a rapid push to broker an end to the conflict in Ukraine, President Donald Trump is sending two prominent figures from his inner circle to Moscow. The envoys, his former business partner and his son-in-law, have not been confirmed by the Senate.

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Their mission is to persuade the Russian leader to agree to halt the war he began by invading Ukraine.

Trumps approach, featuring in-person meetings led by Witkoff, Kushner, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reflects his unconventional style of diplomacy. Throughout his second term, he has relied heavily on close associates and trusted allies to tackle complex international conflicts, achieving notable successes along the way.

Witkoff and Kushner played a crucial role in negotiating the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which reportedly influenced their central role in the Russia-Ukraine talks. After the Gaza truce, Trump praised Witkoff, calling him a great negotiator. Initially focused on the Middle East, Witkoffs responsibilities expanded to include efforts to end the war in Ukraine, raising questions in Washington and abroad.

A former senior State Department official commented that Trump favors personal diplomacy over bureaucratic channels, a practice reminiscent of the pre-Cold War era. Witkoffs close ties with Moscow have generated concern, particularly given his history of meeting Russian officials without senior diplomats or US note-takers. Trump once recounted that a meeting expected to last 15 minutes extended to five hours, with Putin discussing a lot of interesting things.

In October, an audio recording revealed Witkoff advising top Russian foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov on how Putin should engage Trump, a day before a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. European officials found this controversial, while Trump defended Witkoff, stating he is acting as a negotiator between Ukraine and Russia. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the administration as very optimistic about reaching a resolution.

Kushner, who has attended high-level meetings with Ukrainian officials, has re-emerged as a key figure despite holding no official government role. His involvement follows his participation in negotiating the Gaza ceasefire and longstanding advisory work dating back to the presidential transition. Sources indicate that Trump sees Kushner as his closer in foreign policy negotiations, trusted to signal to foreign leaders that they are effectively dealing with the president directly.

Relying on such a small circle carries risks, as it limits the diversity of perspectives and scrutiny of decisions, noted a former senior State Department official. Trump, however, prioritizes trusted associates with proven negotiation success for critical tasks, such as the Russia-Ukraine talks.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has also become an important figure in the discussions, meeting Ukrainian and Russian officials but not traveling to Moscow. Analysts describe Driscoll as an emerging star in the administration, with the ability to detect hidden challenges in negotiations.

Kushners involvement reflects Trumps frustration with the prolonged conflict and his desire to replicate the Gaza ceasefire approach. Ukrainian officials view Kushner as a potential dealmaker, though they recognize a final agreement has not been reached. Some European observers have questioned Kushners lack of official mandate and depth of expertise.

In late October, Witkoff and Kushner met with sanctioned Russian businessman Kirill Dmitriev in Miami, leveraging his close ties to Putin. This meeting produced a draft 28-point plan criticized by European officials and members of Congress for being overly conciliatory toward Russia. Subsequent revisions occurred during discussions in Geneva with US and Ukrainian officials, led by Rubio.

Rubio emphasized the complexity of the negotiations and noted that Witkoffs upcoming trip to Moscow will be a continuation of these delicate talks.

Author: Sophia Brooks