US is trying to accelerate the diplomatic track

On Tuesday, special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Moscow, where they are scheduled to meet with Vladimir Putin, CNN reports.

Neither representative has been confirmed by the Senate and neither has classical diplomatic training, but Trump calls them the most effective mediators, capable, as he said, of “closing the deal.”

Witkoff and Kushner participated in the process that previously led to a truce between Israel and Hamas.

Trump's second term has been characterized by a departure from traditional diplomatic tools: he relies on a small circle of business partners and allies.

Former State Department officials note that the president avoids bureaucratic structures and prefers personal contacts.

Meanwhile, Vitkoff's ties with Russian officials are causing concern among allies, with some meetings taking place without the participation of American advisers.

Trump said that one of his conversations with Putin lasted five hours instead of the planned 20 minutes.

Kushner, despite his lack of formal status, quickly took a key position in the negotiations. Sources say that leaders of other countries perceive his participation as a personal channel to Trump.

He and Witkoff have already held meetings with the Ukrainian delegation. However, contacts with Russia have intensified criticism: in October, they met in Miami with Russian businessman Kirill Dmitriev, who is under sanctions.

After a series of consultations, a 28-point peace plan was drafted, which was sharply criticized in the US Congress and European capitals as being too favorable to Moscow.

The White House stated that the document was prepared by Vitkoff and Marco Rubio and that it was undergoing revisions. Rubio led subsequent negotiations in Geneva and Florida and reported significant progress, although Ukrainian sources emphasize that no final decision has been made yet.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, whom Trump calls “his drone guy,” is playing an additional role in the negotiations.

He has worked with Ukrainian representatives in Kyiv and Geneva and has been in contact with Russian participants in Abu Dhabi, but he has not been sent to Moscow.

Before the visit to Moscow, White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt said the administration was extremely optimistic.

According to her, the points of the document have been significantly revised, but the details remain with the negotiators.

Ukrainian officials see Kushner's participation as a sign that Washington considers the agreement possible.

However, they believe that the process is far from complete. Rubio, for his part, noted that there are no signs that the Kremlin really wants peace, and the upcoming negotiations promise to be difficult.

Photo: vn.mk.ua.