Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and his envoy to Russia, real estate developer Steve Witkoff (Will Oliver/UPI)
Ukraine War, Day 1,376: US-Kyiv Meeting Is “Difficult But Productive”
EA on Dublin NewsTalk: Trump Envoy Witkoff’s Collusion With Kremlin Over Ukraine
I joined Poland’s TVP World on Sunday night to evaluate the talks between US and Ukrainian delegations in Florida, pushing back against the collusion between Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and the Kremlin.
In the 15-minute discussion, I analyze the remarks of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian officials on a “difficult but productive” day.
But with Witkoff visiting the Kremlin on Monday, I highlight the challenge of pushing back the ultimatum which he and Kushner developed with Vladimir Putin’s top advisor Kirill Dmitriev — not only because of Witkoff’s affinity for Putin but also because of members of the Trump camp pursuing profits.
The Trump Administration has leverage if they want to use it. We saw that with sanctions on Russia’s leading oil companies, and the Administration could give Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine for strikes inside Russia.
But Witkoff and Kushner have no interest in leverage on Russia. Instead, they are talking about striking lucrative economic deals.
Given that Putin is unlikely to accept a ceasefire without the seizure of more Ukrainian territory and a permanently weakened Kyiv, what can be done to maintain support for Ukraine?
