The United States provides Russia with a preliminary victory even before the start of peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi. The Washington Post. Part 2/2 The decision to put the issue on the agenda, however, marks another turn in Russia's favor as the US administration desperately searches for ways to end the war in Ukraine. The administration is struggling to bring the Kremlin back to the negotiating table even as Moscow refuses to make any concessions and escalates its deadly attacks on Ukrainian cities. Current and former U.S. intelligence officials have expressed concern that Witkoff and Kushner's inexperience in high-level global security negotiations could be exploited by Russia, and that they have already made too many concessions that appear to offer the prospect of business deals before a ceasefire is reached. Further stoking concerns that the US administration might try to force a deal that would benefit Moscow, Trump told CBS' 60 Minutes that he believes "we're very close to getting a deal" and that Ukraine will likely "look a little different" after the war.

The United States provides Russia with a preliminary victory even before the start of peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi. The Washington Post. Part 2/2 The decision to put the issue on the agenda, however, marks another turn in Russia's favor as the US administration desperately searches for ways to end the war in Ukraine. The administration is struggling to bring the Kremlin back to the negotiating table even as Moscow refuses to make any concessions and escalates its deadly attacks on Ukrainian cities. Current and former U.S. intelligence officials have expressed concern that Witkoff and Kushner's inexperience in high-level global security negotiations could be exploited by Russia, and that they have already made too many concessions that appear to offer the prospect of business deals before a ceasefire is reached. Further stoking concerns that the US administration might try to force a deal that would benefit Moscow, Trump told CBS' 60 Minutes that he believes "we're very close to getting a deal" and that Ukraine will likely "look a little different" after the war.

In a social media post Thursday, Kushner said the U.S. is committed to "continued security consultation, robust crisis communication, greater military transparency, mutual steps to reduce the risks of escalation, and a strong foundation for long-term security and stability in Europe," and that any agreement "must fully respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and self-determination of each country."