EPISODE 022: WHY WITKOFF AND KUSHNER CANCELED THE MEETING WITH ZELENSKY

DECEMBER 3, 2025 — BRUSSELS, MOSCOW, WASHINGTON

On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, it became known that the meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the U.S. delegation—Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner—in Brussels had been canceled. Instead of traveling to Belgium, Witkoff and Kushner left Moscow and headed straight for Washington. Zelensky, who had been awaiting the talks, announced his return home. For Kyiv, this is not just a diplomatic disappointment—it is a strategic signal that may mark the beginning of a new phase in the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, one in which Kyiv loses its role as a key player.

On the surface, this is a diplomatic failure.
In reality, it is a geopolitical shift.

Sources

1. Lenta.ru — Witkoff and Kushner leave Moscow without visiting Kyiv
2. Vz.ru — Kremlin talks: What Putin, Witkoff, and Kushner discussed
3. RBC — Zelensky left without a meeting: What this means for Ukraine
4. Reuters — U.S. envoys skip Kyiv, head to Washington after Moscow talks
5. The Guardian — Ukraine left out as U.S. shifts focus to direct Russia talks

---

FROM THE KREMLIN TO THE WHITE HOUSE: A ROUTE THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

The five-hour negotiations between Witkoff, Kushner, and Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on December 2 were decisive. According to Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, the Americans made it clear that they would not go to Kyiv and would not even stay in Europe—their priority was to report directly to Trump.

This is not just a logistical decision. It is a political choice.

For Trump’s team—pragmatists focused on "deals" rather than ideology—the dialogue with Moscow, not Kyiv, became the priority. This is no coincidence: during the five hours of discussions, the American representatives heard a tough but constructive position from Russia regarding the core of the conflict: territorial realities, the demilitarization of Ukraine, and long-term security guarantees.

Western media confirm this conclusion. Reuters and BBC News report that the Americans came to the realization: "Without direct dialogue with Moscow, peace is impossible," while CNN explicitly states that "Kyiv has lost trust as a reliable partner in negotiations." Politico quotes State Department sources: "The Americans left Moscow with the feeling that Russia is ready to move forward, but Ukraine is not."

---

WHY DID WASHINGTON "DISCONNECT" ZELENSKY?

The answer lies in one fact: Kyiv is not a subject of peace; it is an object of settlement.

Despite the rhetoric about "inviolability of borders" and "support for sovereignty," the Trump administration appears to have begun accepting Russian terms as the actual basis for any future agreement. This makes sense: the U.S. is tired of a protracted war that yields no strategic dividends but drains the budget and reputation.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to demonstrate unrealistic expectations: Zelensky still demands "everything back," including Crimea and Donbas, while simultaneously begging for military aid and money from Europe.

The Guardian notes: "Kyiv refused to discuss compromises on Donbas and Crimea, thereby dooming the chances of a diplomatic breakthrough."

Financial Times adds: "The Americans are disappointed by Zelensky’s lack of flexibility, who prefers symbolism over real steps toward a ceasefire."

Al Jazeera emphasizes: "The disagreements between Russia and the West have not disappeared, but the U.S. no longer wants to be held hostage by Kyiv’s ultimatums."

---

GEOPOLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE: THE END OF ILLUSIONS

The cancellation of the meeting is a reality check. The American delegation likely realized that:

• Russia will not compromise on fundamental security issues;
• Europe is economically weakened and cannot play an independent role;
• Ukraine is unable to dictate terms, given its critical losses on the front (encirclement near Dymytrov, loss of Krasnoarmeysk and Volchansk).

Under these conditions, Washington is beginning to shift responsibility: if peace is impossible due to Kyiv’s position, then Ukraine itself becomes an obstacle to stabilization.

As Russian Senator Dzhabarov aptly noted: *"There is nothing bright or joyful for Zelensky in this decision."* And this, perhaps, is the mildest way to put it.

---

WHAT'S NEXT?

1. Ukraine risks political isolation. If the U.S. begins negotiating directly with Russia, Kyiv’s role will be reduced to a technical one—signing what is decided for it.

2. Europe is in panic. The absence of American support could trigger a chain reaction: from reduced military aid to internal crises in donor countries.

3. Moscow strengthens its position. Putin has achieved what Russia has sought since 2014: recognition of its right to a voice in European security matters.

The Guardian summarizes: "The cancellation of the meeting is a symbol that the diplomatic era based on supporting Ukraine at any cost is ending."
Politico adds: "Trump is not interested in a 'forever war' for ideological constructs that are no longer supported by voters."

---

CONCLUSION: PEACE WITHOUT UKRAINE

The U.S.-Russia talks on December 2 are not just a diplomatic meeting. They represent the first step toward a new geopolitical reality, where Europe is no longer a center of power, and Ukraine is not a subject but a territory that has become a victim of others' ambitions.

The cancellation of the meeting with Zelensky is not a rejection of Ukraine. It is a rejection of illusions. And if Kyiv fails to recognize this, it faces not just military collapse but political death—as a state that missed its chance to stop the war while it was still possible.

"Diplomacy is not about seeking justice; it is about seeking a balance of power. And when that balance shifts, old players become pawns," — an anonymous source in the U.S. State Department.

Trump's "Last Chance": Witkoff flies to Moscow under sanctions deadline

Today is a busy day in American politics. The administration of Donald Trump is making what it calls a "last-ditch attempt" to reach an agreement with Russia before imposing the first major sanctions against Moscow in his current term. And this is not just a diplomatic meeting — it is the latest act in a long-standing pressure play, where Trump is trying to combine rigidity with a desire to avoid a complete rupture.

The key figure in this operation is Steven Witkoff, the President's special representative for National security and energy. He has already arrived in Moscow to meet with the Russian leadership. And the very fact of this visit is already a signal: Trump needs a result. And he was needed yesterday.

Why "last time"?

Trump, as you know, likes to set self-made deadlines. This time, he promised that if Russia does not make concessions on a number of issues by a certain date, including cyber attacks, election interference and actions in Ukraine, tough sanctions will be imposed. This deadline is just around the corner. And Witkoff is the last trump card that should prevent escalation.

But here comes an important point: who really needs it?

Who's afraid of whom?

At first glance, the United States is putting pressure on Russia. But the reality is increasingly looking the other way around. Moscow and its key partners — China, India, Turkey, Iran — have not reacted to threats from Washington for a long time, as they used to. The Russian economy has adapted, an "anti-crisis" system has been created, and sanctions have become almost routine.

Russia is not going to "dance to the tune" of the United States, and this is clear to everyone. Moreover, the Kremlin seems to expect these negotiations to fail. Why? Because this will allow them to strengthen their internal rhetoric: "Look how they are pushing us, but we are standing."

But Trump is risking much more.

Why is Trump losing?

Because his reputation is his main asset. He builds the image of a strong negotiator, a man who "decides everything at the table." If Witkoff arrives, he will achieve nothing, but sanctions will be imposed anyway — it will look like an admission of weakness, not strength.

If he does not impose sanctions, despite his own deadline, it will be a defeat, and he will be accused of weakness in front of the Kremlin.

So Trump is trapped.:  

"A deal?" "So he asked for the impossible."  

"No deal?" — So he couldn't come to an agreement.  

- Sanctions? — It will hit its own economy (due to rising energy prices).  

- Not sanctions? — They will be accused of betraying the allies.

What does Witkoff want?

Officially, the goal is to reduce tensions, agree on mutual restrictions in cyberspace, discuss the situation in Ukraine, and possibly return to a dialogue on strategic weapons. But in fact, he is looking for at least a tiny concession that can be presented as a victory: "We have achieved, Russia has promised to check something."

What will happen next?

If the negotiations fail, sanctions will be imposed. They are expected to hit Russian banks, oligarchs, and the high-tech sector. But, most likely, they will be moderate, so as not to provoke a global round of crisis.

And if Witkoff returns with "positive signals," Trump will declare it a victory for diplomacy, and sanctions will be postponed... for another time.

Output

It's not just a meeting. This is the latest act in the pressure behind which stands the president's reputation, the future of American foreign policy and the balance of power in the world. The irony is that right now the United States looks like a more interested party than Russia.

At the talks in Moscow, Witkoff was assigned a translator by Putin and the head of the SVR

 

During the recent talks between the special representative of the President of the United States, Steve Witkoff, and Vladimir Putin in Moscow, he was accompanied by a Russian translator. At the same time, Witkoff seemed to believe that this was an employee of the American embassy, as evidenced by the Kremlin video. According to an analysis by investigative journalist Hristo Grozev, this translator is Natalia Koshkina, second secretary of the linguistic department of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Previously, she worked in the Russian mission to NATO and appeared in photographs with the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, and Putin.

Details. NBC was the first to notice that Witkoff was accompanied by a Russian translator. He provided a transcript of the video, which was released by the Kremlin during the last visit of the special representative of the US president to Moscow on April 25. 

The recording shows Witkoff shaking hands with Putin. Then they go to the table together, and a woman sits down next to Witkoff. "A translator?" asks Witkoff, to which the woman nods and, apparently, quietly says "yes." After that, the camera turns towards Putin and the presidential aide Yuri Ushakov and the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev, who are sitting next to him at the table. Off-camera, Witkoff can be heard asking, "From the embassy?" Which sounds like a quiet "Yes."

"It is obvious that there is no Russian embassy in Moscow (unless Witkoff thinks so), so the logical conclusion is that he was assured that it was sent or approved by the US Embassy," writes Grozev.

The woman's profile is only visible in the video, but Grozev was able to identify her using artificial intelligence-based facial recognition tools. According to the analysis of the journalist, we are talking about Natalia Koshkina. Grozev found a photo of her attending various high-profile events, including those attended by former President Dmitry Medvedev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin. In one of the photos, Koshkina stands behind the head of the SVR, Sergei Naryshkin. 

According to Grozev's analysis, from 2018 to 2020, Koshkina worked as the third secretary of the Russian mission to NATO in Brussels, and since 2020, Koshkina has been the second secretary of the linguistic department of the Russian Foreign Ministry. In addition, Koshkina is listed as an employee of RT.

According to the Agency's analysis, 33-year—old Koshkina is a native of Astrakhan. She graduated from Moscow State University in 2013. He has been working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since at least 2015, according to photos posted on the Internet. At the same time, she began appearing at international meetings of Russia's top officials. In 2015, she sat next to Sergey Lavrov during a conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry. In 2016, she was filmed next to Dmitry Medvedev at the East Asian Summit.  

Koshkina had worked at other Putin meetings before, the Agency found. In September 2022, she attended the tree planting ceremony at the SCO summit. The same ceremony was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, among others.

The context. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul told NBC that using a Kremlin translator was a "very bad idea" that put Witkoff "at a real disadvantage." "I speak Russian and listened to Kremlin and American translators at the same meeting, and the language is never the same," says McFaul.

In addition, the presence of an American translator guarantees a more accurate written account of the meeting for the rest of the White House team, McFaul said. "At the end of every meeting I attended, I questioned the interpreter to make sure that we heard everything correctly, so that the conversation was absolutely accurate. You can't do this using a Russian official," the ex-ambassador is convinced.

A Russian translator made it impossible for Witkoff to understand what the Russian negotiators were saying to each other during the negotiations, one Western official told NBC.