Vladimir Putin greets Donald Trump’s envoy, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, in the Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, December 2, 2025

EA-CAI VideoCast: Watching Russia Fail in Ukraine

EA-War and Politics 24: What Next for Ukraine-Russia-US Talks?

Wednesday’s Coverage: Nearly 1.8 Million Casualties During Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion

UPDATE 0639 GMT:

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has knocked back Volodymyr Zelensky’s goal of Ukrainian membership in the European Union by 2027.

“Joining the EU on January 1, 2027, is out of the question. It’s impossible,” Merz said.”This is a long-term process.”

He declared that all EU membership candidates must meet necessary criteria. Ukraine is no exception, so several years are required.

President Zelensky said last week at the Davos World Economic Forum, of EU accession as a key security guarantee for Kyiv and Europe: “That’s why we’re talking about a specific date — 2027 — and we count on our partners’ support for our position.”

UPDATE 0630 GMT:

In his nightly address to the nation, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked all those trying to maintain energy supplies despite Russia’s intense missile and drone strikes.

He then warned:

It is crucial that leaders do not remain silent about what is happening, about the fact that Russia is still trying to inflict as much pain as possible of Ukraine, regardless of any diplomacy.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Journalists are speaking of the “shocking” lack of basic knowledge of one of Donald Trump’s envoys over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The sources revealed details of the envoy’s closed conversation with a small group of reporters. The Kyiv Independent, which posted the story, did not identify whether the envoy was real estate developer Steve Witkoff or Trump’s son-in-law Kushner. However, quotes from the sources pointed to Witkoff.

“Even Kushner looks more professional,” said Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Ukraine’s Parliament.

The envoy wrongly said of Kyrylo Budanov, the recently appointed head of the President’s Office and former chief of military intelligence, “is now their Vice President”.

Ukraine does not a Vice President. If the President cannot perform their duties, authority temporarily passes to the chair of Parliament.

Asked if Donald Trump was hoping to end the full-scale invasion by its fourth anniversary on February 24, the envoy said they did not know when the Russian assault began.

“I wasn’t aware of what that anniversary date was,” they answered. “I don’t think we feel pressure to because we have a 4-year anniversary.”

“A Serious Problem”

According to “eight people familiar” with last weekend’s Ukraine-Russia-US talks in Abu Dhabi, the Trump Administration is making US security guarantees to Kyiv contingent on Kyiv giving up to Russia the rest of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

Merezhko said, “This is a serious problem. [The envoy] has already made several big mistakes — both technical and, in essence, serious diplomatic ones.”

He said the US official appears susceptible to Russian narratives and approaches negotiations through a transactional lens rather than a political or legal one.

[They] view territorial issues as real estate. That is completely wrong. They do not know the basics — the fundamentals of politics, history, international law.

Witkoff reportedly said of last weekend’s talks, “We saw a lot of respect in the room because they were really looking for solutions.”

He cited a joint lunch on Saturday, “There was a moment that everybody looked almost as they were friends. I had a sense of hope.”

Christian Caryl, a columnist for Foreign Policy, noted that individuals with little experience are often appointed to US ambassadorial posts as rewards for campaign contributions or loyalty to the President.

“That said, I don’t think we’ve ever seen a case quite as extreme as this,” he explained. “It is clear that this lack of awareness poses serious risks for Ukraine.”

Merezhko said the “very naive” and “inexperienced” envoy, with his “shocking” statements, should be removed from the US delegation.