Witkoff and Kushner Told Ukraine That Diesel Export Deal Is Bid to Bring Russia Back to Peace Talks

US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner explained to the Ukrainian side at a Miami meeting on October 9 that the deal allowing Russian diesel exports is part of a broader strategy to incentivize Russia to return to peace negotiations, Reuters sources reported as cited by Yevropeyska Pravda.

The Logic Behind the Deal

The idea was that the US could turn to Russia and say that the Ukrainians had stopped striking and the US had given Russia this deal, so now it was Russia's turn to do something, according to a Reuters source. This suggests the diesel export concession was intended as an incentive to coax Russia toward the negotiating table.

Witkoff and Kushner Involvement

The meeting took place in Miami on October 9, involving US President Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and the Ukrainian side. The revelation places the diesel export deal in the context of a broader diplomatic effort led by the Trump administration to push toward a settlement of the Ukraine-Russia war.

Ukraine's Reaction

The disclosure of the link between Ukraine's agreement to stop certain strikes and the diesel export concession reveals the quid pro quo logic behind the US approach. Whether Russia has responded to these incentives remains to be seen.