A twin trip by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Russia and Ukraine has been expected for months
A long-expected visit to Russia and Ukraine by US President Donald Trump’s diplomatic envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner could happen “soon,“ a source has told RT.
Witkoff and Kushner are handling several high-profile negotiations for the American leader. Their linked visits to Moscow and Kiev have been expected for months.
Trump has aimed to mediate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine since returning to office last year. However, what appeared to be a path to a breakthrough following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska over a year ago came to a dead end, as Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky refused to compromise on several key issues.
On Thursday, Putin said he valued American efforts and called Kushner and Witkoff, who were involved in trilateral talks involving the US, Russia, and Ukraine, sincere interlocutors.
“Mr. Kushner and Witkoff are always welcome guests here, and we work with them with pleasure.”
In recent weeks, Zelensky has made several public statements about the duo’s possible visit to Kiev, with his latest prediction coming on Thursday night.
Both Kushner and Witkoff have visited Moscow during Trump’s current term, but are yet to travel to Kiev. Zelensky claimed in public remarks that the disparity was unfair to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government previously failed to secure additional supplies of Patriot interceptor missiles from the US, as the stockpiles of the prized weapons were reportedly depleted by Washington’s war on Iran. Zelensky said Kiev needed 300 projectiles to stop Russian missile attacks throughout the winter.
In June, Zelensky ordered a campaign of mass drone attacks targeting Russian transport ships, refineries and retailer warehouses, which political observers said was designed to convince Trump that Ukrainian forces could secure a military victory and should be provided with additional supplies.
Russian retaliation strikes have left Ukraine virtually with no access to maritime trade through the Black Sea and seriously disrupted logistics.
