标签： Europe

In a revealing development, President Donald Trump’s key intermediary with Russia, Steve Witkoff, reportedly advised a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin on how to approach Trump with a peace proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. According to a transcript published by Bloomberg News, Witkoff suggested during an October 14 call that Putin congratulate Trump on the Gaza ceasefire deal, express support for it, and emphasize Trump’s role as a peacemaker. This conversation occurred just before Trump announced that Witkoff would meet with Putin to discuss a ‘fine-tuned’ peace plan for Ukraine. The White House did not dispute the transcript’s authenticity, with Trump describing Witkoff’s approach as standard negotiation tactics. However, the report has drawn criticism from some U.S. lawmakers, including Republican Representative Don Bacon, who accused Witkoff of favoring Russian interests and called for his removal from the negotiations. The transcript also revealed that Witkoff proposed arranging a call between Trump and Putin before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s White House visit, with Putin congratulating Trump on the Gaza agreement as a starting point. The discussions come amid a broader debate over a leaked 28-point peace plan, which critics argue heavily favors Russian demands, including Ukraine ceding the Donbas region and reducing its military size. While the State Department declined to comment on the Bloomberg report, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the proposal was a U.S.-led effort with input from both Russia and Ukraine. As negotiations continue, Trump has hinted at a potential meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy, but only after further progress is made.

Belarusian opposition leader Mikola Statkevich has been returned to prison after refusing to leave his homeland following a U.S.-mediated release, activists revealed on Tuesday. Statkevich, a former presidential candidate, had been among a group of political prisoners pardoned by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on September 11, following a request from U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite being transported to the Belarusian-Lithuanian border with other freed detainees, Statkevich, 69, rejected what he termed a ‘forced deportation,’ forcibly exiting the bus and lingering in the border’s no-man’s land for hours before being taken into custody by Belarusian police. The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed to his wife, Maryna Adamovich, that he is now back in prison and ‘continues to serve his sentence.’ Statkevich was sentenced in 2021 for allegedly organizing mass unrest, a charge widely criticized by human rights groups as politically motivated. His current whereabouts remain undisclosed, and concerns over his health have intensified, given his history of a heart attack while incarcerated. Pavel Sapelka, a lawyer with the Viasna human rights organization, argued that Statkevich’s pardon should have ensured his freedom, labeling his re-imprisonment as ‘legal chaos.’ This incident underscores the ongoing repression in Belarus, which currently holds 1,246 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. Despite recent efforts by Lukashenko to mend ties with the West, including the release of 52 prisoners and the lifting of sanctions on Belarus’ national airline, Belavia, the situation highlights the regime’s enduring authoritarian grip.

Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, has emerged as a pivotal figure in crafting a new proposal to end Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Despite lacking formal diplomatic credentials, Dmitriev’s background as a former investment banker and his role as a back-channel communicator between the Kremlin and allies of former U.S. President Donald Trump have positioned him uniquely for this task. His inclusion on the U.S. sanctions list has not deterred his involvement in high-stakes negotiations.

Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat who resigned in protest after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, noted that Dmitriev’s informal status might actually be an asset. His ability to connect with figures like Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, has made him a valuable intermediary. Bondarev emphasized that Dmitriev’s approachability and business-oriented mindset resonate well with U.S. counterparts.

Born in Kyiv in 1975, Dmitriev’s early exposure to the U.S. through a school exchange program and his education at Stanford University and Harvard Business School laid the foundation for his global perspective. His career trajectory, which included stints at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey & Company, eventually led him to private equity firms in Russia and Ukraine. In 2011, he was appointed CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), where he worked to attract foreign investment and foster financial ties with countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Political analyst Anton Barbashin described Dmitriev as a modern negotiator, contrasting him with traditional Soviet-trained diplomats. His ability to navigate the Trump administration’s business-centric approach has further solidified his role. Dmitriev’s connections extend beyond business; his wife, Natalia Popova, is linked to the Putin family through her role at Innopraktika, a nonprofit headed by the president’s daughter, Katerina Tikhonova.

Despite his informal status, Dmitriev’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. If his peace proposals succeed, he could earn significant recognition from Vladimir Putin. However, as Bondarev cautioned, the Kremlin retains the power to disown him at any moment, underscoring the precarious nature of his role.

The protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict, now nearing its fourth year, has witnessed numerous failed peace initiatives and high-level diplomatic summits. A recent U.S.-backed proposal has reignited diplomatic efforts, drawing mixed reactions from Kyiv, Moscow, and European capitals. The 28-point plan, heavily tilted toward Russia’s interests, calls for Ukraine to cede the Donbas region, limit its military to 600,000 personnel, and bar future NATO membership. These conditions have sparked alarm in Ukraine and its European allies, who swiftly countered with revised proposals emphasizing Ukraine’s sovereignty and security. Ukrainian and European leaders expressed cautious optimism about the talks’ momentum, though critical responses from Washington and Moscow remain pending. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the dispatch of envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling progress toward a potential deal. However, leaked transcripts of discussions between Witkoff and Putin’s advisor, Yuri Ushakov, have raised concerns about the transparency and integrity of the negotiations. Meanwhile, the 35-nation Coalition of the Willing, including key European allies, convened to bolster Ukraine’s security post-ceasefire, though U.S. commitment remains uncertain. Amid war-weariness and mounting casualties, the fragile peace process faces significant challenges, with domestic issues plaguing both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump. Analysts warn that Russia’s perceived lack of urgency and Ukraine’s mounting pressure could complicate the path to a lasting resolution.