US Shifts Ukraine Strategy: Jared Kushner Set to Lead Negotiations with Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the appearance of a US administration representative at negotiations in Abu Dhabi was unexpected, but emphasized that Moscow never refuses contact.

"A representative of the US administration attended this meeting. For us, this was unexpected, but we never refuse contacts," Putin told journalists.

The president confirmed that a US delegation will visit Moscow for talks next week.

Jared Kushner Steps Into Ukraine Negotiations

The Financial Times reports that the White House is actively involving US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in Ukraine negotiations. Kushner may soon replace Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in these discussions, according to sources cited by the publication.

Kushner has been married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, since 2009 and has played a key role in her father’s political and diplomatic initiatives. In 2016, he effectively organized Trump’s presidential campaign and has previously undertaken complex diplomatic missions. During Trump’s first term, Kushner led efforts to normalize relations between Arab states and Israel, and in October this year, he helped achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

“His current task is to silence weapons and drones on the frontline in Donbas. Kushner’s involvement in one of the most challenging diplomatic maneuvers of Trump’s second term is part of the president’s plan to replicate the Gaza breakthrough,” the Financial Times noted.

Witkoff’s Position Weakens

The position of Steve Witkoff was reportedly undermined on November 25, when Bloomberg published a transcript of an alleged leaked call between the envoy and Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov. No audio file was released, only the text.

On November 26, Trump announced that Kushner will soon travel to Moscow alongside Witkoff for a meeting with Putin. Earlier, on November 20, the Wall Street Journal reported that Kushner is one of the co-authors of the US 28-point peace plan for Ukraine.

Diplomatic Expertise and Strategy Shift

According to Philip Gordon, National Security Advisor to former US Vice President Kamala Harris, Kushner’s involvement could mark a breakthrough in diplomacy. "Like Witkoff, he enjoys the president’s trust, which is essential for any successful negotiator. Unlike Witkoff, however, Kushner has extensive diplomatic experience," Gordon said.

Furthermore, the overall US approach to Ukraine is changing. Senator Marco Rubio indicated that Washington seeks to abandon full support for Ukraine in favor of a neutral stance in negotiations. Reports from Politico suggest the US is pushing Ukraine to sign a conflict resolution agreement before providing clear security guarantees. According to one US official, security guarantees were mentioned only once by the Secretary of State, and later omitted entirely.

However, this strategic shift may face resistance not only from Europe but also domestically, as several Republican lawmakers have criticized the president’s plans.