Trump sent an unusual team to Russia for negotiations

An unusual diplomatic move by Donald Trump has once again become a topic of discussion. The US President sent a group to Moscow that hardly resembles a standard delegation. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s former business partner, and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, arrived with a task usually performed by experienced and high-status diplomats. But Trump bets on personal connections — he has always worked this way, and that hasn’t changed.

They hold no official positions. Nevertheless, a meeting with Putin is planned. In Washington, this caused bewilderment because such visits usually go through multi-level approvals. Here, everything looks different. Trump is confident that these two are capable of “closing the deal,” as he stated in one of the briefings.

Kushner has long played the role of a trusted intermediary in foreign policy matters. His influence grew during Trump’s first term, and for the president, this is a logical continuation of previous schemes. Kushner’s ideas, his ability to maintain private contacts — all this makes him a participant in negotiations, even if he does not formally hold a position.

Witkoff is also not a random person in this set. Although his experience is more related to business than state negotiations, he participated in contacts related to Israel and Hamas. His appearance in the Russian-Ukrainian context raises questions, but in Trump’s logic, it fits: personal trust is more important than protocol.

Criticism within the American establishment arises almost immediately. Former State Department employees speak of risks — when decisions are made by a narrow circle of people, mistakes become almost inevitable. Alternative viewpoints may simply not reach the table. But Trump has never hidden that he finds it more convenient to work with those he personally trusts, rather than those appointed by the system.

This approach inevitably creates disputes. But it also shapes the current line of the White House: personal contacts, direct signals, minimal intermediaries. How this will affect negotiations with Russia is an open question. We will monitor further steps and reactions in Europe, especially considering the impact of these decisions on Ukraine and regional security structures. All key changes will be recorded in the materials of NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.