Witkoff and Kushner to Visit Kyiv After Moscow Talks

Steve Witkoff, a Trump envoy with no prior Russia expertise, is making his eighth visit to Moscow to meet President Putin, this time accompanied by Jared Kushner, in a renewed effort to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war. Witkoff was first sent to see Putin in February of last year despite admitting he knew "nothing" about Russia, with President Trump citing his likability and negotiation skills as qualifications. The Wall Street Journal reports the initial contact was a calculated outreach by Putin, who studied psychological profiles of Trump's officials, and Witkoff was instructed to come alone without CIA handlers or interpreters. The pair are scheduled to visit Kyiv for the first time tomorrow, marking a notable shift in the diplomatic approach. Witkoff has defended his role by stating "the professionals haven't solved it," suggesting a reliance on personal rapport over traditional diplomatic channels.