Anticipated US proposals to end the conflict in Ukraine amid warnings of challenges to trust

The magazine quoted George Pape, former director of Russian analysis at the CIA, as saying that this upcoming visit by Witkov and Kushner to Moscow and Kiev is “very welcome,” considering that all parties have strong reasons to end the fighting.

Pape warned that seizing this favorable moment requires overcoming the deep mistrust between the two countries, in addition to addressing doubts about the Trump administration’s possession of political influence and the ability to persevere to overcome opposition in Europe and within the institutions of power in Washington.

Pape said that during the negotiations, Moscow and Kiev will seek to obtain certain guarantees, as Ukraine will request guarantees of continued support in the event of a future Russian attack, while Moscow will seek understandings on European security issues and the normalization of diplomatic and economic relations with Washington.

Pape stressed that achieving these goals will not be possible without American participation, noting that Russia and Ukraine cannot obtain the guarantees they need to end the fighting without the United States playing a pivotal role in the negotiations.

This will be the envoys' first visit to Kiev since US President Donald Trump's return to the White House, and comes after the visit of CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow last week.

US President Donald Trump had announced that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, would present proposals to end the conflict in Ukraine during the upcoming visit to Russia.