Trump Envoys Witkoff, Kushner to Make First Kyiv Visit in Coming Weeks
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President Donald Trump has confirmed that his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Kyiv in the coming weeks, marking their first trip to Ukraine since taking leading roles in efforts to end Russia’s invasion. Former US special representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker says the visit could be pivotal because the envoys have only heard Russia’s narrative and never seen the country firsthand. The trip comes as Congress advances tougher sanctions on Russia, though no new US assistance to Ukraine is expected.
Firsthand Perspective
Volker, a former US ambassador to NATO and now a distinguished fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said Witkoff and Kushner have visited Russia multiple times since the 2022 full-scale invasion and met President Vladimir Putin, absorbing Moscow’s narrative without setting foot in Ukraine. “They have no idea what Ukraine actually is,” he told RFE/RL. “To go there, to see it — a beautiful country, a large country, lots of people, a functioning economy — ... I think that will have an impact on them.” Seeing Kyiv as a bustling, functioning city despite constant Russian strikes could shift their understanding of the war.
Washington’s Political Shift
Volker said the mood in Washington has turned more positive toward Ukraine and more critical of Russia, but he does not expect new US assistance to follow. “It’s definitely better, and it’s because Ukraine is doing better, and Putin keeps wanting the war, and Zelenskyy is very clear about wanting a cease-fire,” he said. The Graham Sanctions Act, imposing tougher measures on Russia, is likely to pass Congress, though President Trump will have discretion over enforcement. Volker characterized the shift as “eliminating a negative” rather than adding a major positive.
Diplomatic Gaps
The United States still lacks a Senate-confirmed ambassador to Ukraine or a special representative focused on the war. Volker downplayed the effect of this absence, saying Trump runs foreign policy directly. “The way things work in the second Trump administration is that Trump does everything himself,” he said, adding that any ambassador would still have to follow the president’s directive. The envoys’ trip may serve as an informal channel, though it falls outside traditional diplomatic structures.
What's Next
The envoys are expected to travel to Kyiv in the coming weeks, but no precise date has been announced. It remains unclear whether the visit, combined with new sanctions legislation, will lead to concrete changes in US policy toward Ukraine or merely maintain the current cautious engagement.
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Trump Envoys Witkoff, Kushner to Make First Kyiv Visit in Coming Weeks
