PNN – The failure of several rounds of negotiations between U.S. officials and Russia and Ukraine has reinforced speculation that Washington lacks a coherent strategy and negotiating team to advance the talks.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, the Zionist newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported disagreements between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House special envoy Steve Witkoff over the strategy for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine war.
According to the report, the main cause of tension between Rubio and Witkoff is their difference over negotiating methods and the level of trust in Russia’s promises.
The Jerusalem Post wrote that during the November peace talks in Geneva, when Rubio and Witkoff were scheduled to meet Ukrainian officials, Witkoff arrived at the venue earlier and acted in a manner suggesting he did not want to negotiate in Rubio’s presence.
The newspaper described Witkoff’s proposed plan as favoring Russia, noting that he pressured Kyiv to make concessions, while Rubio called for economic and military pressure on the Kremlin to force it to make concessions.
Quoting Alexander Vershbow, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, The Jerusalem Post said that the disagreements between Rubio and Witkoff are problematic, warning that the lack of coordination within the U.S. negotiating team could disrupt the Ukraine peace talks.