The White House firmly denied a report by the "Financial Times" on Wednesday that suggested plans to remove Steve Witkov and Jared Kushner from leading negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and to potentially involve CIA Director John Ratcliffe in a central role.
Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated the report is "entirely false," emphasizing that there have been no discussions within the U.S. administration about changing the officials overseeing the negotiations.
Kelly added, "These reports are completely unfounded and constitute misleading fabrications based on claims from low-level, unnamed sources who have no understanding of the subject. No such discussions are taking place at all."
"Full Confidence" in Witkov and Kushner
The U.S. official confirmed that Witkov and Kushner continue to lead efforts to reach a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
She said, "Special Envoy Witkov and Jared Kushner are working tirelessly and diligently to achieve a peace agreement, and the president has full confidence in them to manage these negotiations on behalf of the United States."
The denial comes in response to a report by the "Financial Times," which cited informed sources suggesting Ratcliffe was preparing to take a larger role in U.S. negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, with the possibility of reducing Witkov and Kushner's involvement in the situation.
Thus, the White House refutes the existence of a plan to reshape the negotiation team and reaffirms its commitment to continuing with the current envoys, as entrusted by President Donald Trump.
Following Moscow and Kyiv Tour
The debate over the U.S. negotiation team surfaces days after Witkov and Kushner toured Moscow and Kyiv as part of Washington's efforts to advance settlement processes.
The envoys met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on September 5 during a meeting that lasted about three hours.
Following the meeting, Russian Presidential Assistant Yuri Ushakov stated that Putin emphasized the need to address what Moscow describes as "the root causes" of the Ukrainian conflict.
The next day, Witkov and Kushner traveled to Kyiv by train from Poland to continue U.S. communications with the Ukrainian side.
The U.S. denial underscores that the Trump administration is currently committed to its existing negotiation team as Washington continues its attempts to make breakthroughs in the settlement process between Moscow and Kyiv.