President Donald Trump is sending two of his most prominent diplomats to Moscow in an effort to end the war in Ukraine. One of them is a former business associate and his son-in-law, but neither has been approved by the Senate.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Special Envoy Jared Kushner will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin today.
President Trump’s recent efforts toward Ukraine highlight his unconventional and sometimes controversial approach to diplomacy.
President Trump has worked closely with his business associates and trusted allies to resolve some of the world’s most intractable conflicts, and they are succeeding. Mr. Witkoff and Mr. Kushner were key brokers of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which administration officials say is why they were placed at the center of negotiations to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Witkoff was appointed special envoy for the Middle East and tasked with ending the war in Gaza. But his portfolio quickly expanded to include efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Mr. Witkov’s warm relationship with Moscow has raised concerns among some allies, especially given his history of engaging with Russian officials without experienced diplomats or, at times, the presence of American note-takers.
Mr. Kushner has no official role in the U.S. government, but he has re-emerged as a central figure in the administration’s diplomatic efforts as he negotiated a Gaza ceasefire plan with Mr. Witkoff.
As part of the U.S. delegation, he has attended two high-level meetings with Ukrainian officials in recent weeks.
Read more about Witkoff and Kushner’s role in war negotiations.
