Talks in Russia – Kushner put Putin in an awkward position with a question

Jared Kushner, during a meeting in Moscow, pointed out to Vladimir Putin that similar promises about the imminent capture of Donbas were made a year ago, and suggested not wasting another year on negotiations. The American delegation discussed the situation in Ukraine and prospects for a peace agreement with the Russian leader, after which they headed to Kyiv.

Jared Kushner, a representative of the administration of US President Donald Trump, put Vladimir Putin in an awkward position during a September meeting in Moscow by questioning the timeline for capturing Donbas. According to The New York Times, Putin assured American negotiators that Russian forces could establish full control over the part of Donbas held by Ukraine within a few months. Kushner reminded the Russian leader that similar predictions had been made a year earlier and effectively asked why the current promise should be more accurate. "With all due respect, you told us the same thing a year ago," the NYT quotes Kushner as saying. The American representative also asked whether the sides would find themselves in the same situation a year from now, again discussing similar Russian statements, and urged not to delay a resolution: "Maybe we shouldn't waste a year?" The negotiation process remains difficult: Moscow insists on territorial demands, while Kyiv is not ready to cede territories that the Russian army failed to capture. After the meeting, Kushner and US special envoy Steve Witkoff headed to Kyiv for further contacts with the Ukrainian side.