By Janet Ekstract, ISTANBUL-As more information comes to light about U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff’s meetings in Miami with a top Putin associate, multiple U.S. officials within the State Department and the National Security Council are particularly alarmed about the lack of transparency since they were not informed. According to major U.S. news outlets, these officials had no idea that the meetings had taken place. While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was briefed on the proposal, it’s not clear about how involved he was, with officials dispelling claims that proper coordination happened. Those officials noted that Rubio had previously rejected several parts of the proposal. Concerns are heightened even further because the Putin associate who met with Witkoff – a sanctioned Russian envoy and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmietriev
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU leaders made it clear that any peace proposal for Ukraine must include Ukraine at the table and as von der Leyen said, lead to a “just and lasting peace.” Although, von der Leyen said that any meeting between Trump and Putin that “helps achieve peace in Ukraine … would be welcome,” she underscored there need to be “firm and credible security guarantees” for Ukraine. Meanwhile, in a coordinated statement with other European leaders, von der Leyen made it clear that meaningful negotiations should only take place in terms of a ceasefire or a significant reduction in hostilities. Von der Leyen told Turkiye’s Anadolu Agency that any guarantees for Ukraine are not symbolic, but part of a serious long-term diplomatic settlement, not just a temporary peace deal. She added that such guarantees could assist in making Ukraine “a steel porcupine…undigestible for potential invaders.”
In an address to Ukrainians on Friday, November 22, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine faces a pivotal choice between standing up for its sovereign rights and preserving the American support it needs. This is because the 28-point proposal worked out between Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and sanctioned Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has raised red flags with U.S. officials and lawmakers. According to recent news reports, many senior officials within the U.S. State Department and National Security Council had no idea about the discussions that took place in Miami led by Witkoff that also included Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was briefed on the proposal, it’s not clear about how involved he was with officials dispelling claims that proper coordination happened. Those officials noted that Rubio had previously rejected several parts of the proposal.
Concerns mounted also because in the past, Dmitriev has moved to cultivate connections with the Trump administration, a relationship that includes previous contacts whose goal it was to improve U.S.-Russia relations. Reports from Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicated Dmitriev had talks with Trump allies to foster warm relations. During the pandemic, Dmitriev collaborated with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to coordinate importing ventilators to the U.S. That action raised alarms with the U.S. Treasury Department about potential violations of existing sanctions. Meanwhile, Congress and members of the Trump administration are anxious about a peace proposal that favors Russian goals. Critics of the plan include a number of U.S. senators who question how Ukraine could possibly be willing to cede its rightful territory to the aggressor – Russian President Vladimir Putin. Experts on the region have also raised major concerns about the proposal since Putin called the outlined peace plan just a starting point for further negotiations that many see as slanted against Ukraine. U.S. intelligence circles are alarmed due to Dmitriev’s prior attempts to gain influence through the RDIF.Meanwhile, top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas told Trump’s team that their framework for a ceasefire will fail without support from Ukraine and European governments. The U.S. plan has set off major alarm in Europe primarily because the EU and Ukraine were not included in drafting the proposal. As Kallas told reporters in Brussels on November 21: “For any peace plan to succeed, it has to be supported by Ukraine and it has to be supported by Europe.” She added: “The pressure must be on the aggressor, not on the victim. Rewarding aggression will only invite more of it.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told European ministers in a private meeting in Brussels that it was obvious that Russia commandeered the terms of the new proposals. As Sybiha said: “the bottom line is that any peace plan is not doable if it is based on appeasement of the aggressor,” adding “This could only bring more war and brutality to Ukraine and all of Europe.”
