A surge of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine has unfolded over the past two weeks, involving high-level talks between American, Ukrainian, and Russian officials. The flurry of activity comes as President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow for discussions with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, 2 December 2025.
President Trump has publicly stated that "big progress" is being made in the negotiations. The United States and Ukraine are working to bridge differences in a Washington-proposed peace plan, which was initially met with criticism for being perceived as overly favourable to Russia. In response, European leaders have put forward a counter-proposal that strongly reaffirms Kyiv's core demands.
Who Are the Central Figures in the Negotiations?
The complex diplomatic process involves a cast of influential characters from politics and business, whose interactions have sometimes led to public disagreements. Below are some of the key individuals shaping the dialogue.
Steve Witkoff: The Billionaire Envoy
Steve Witkoff, a billionaire real estate investor with significant ties to Russia, serves as President Trump's special envoy. His role has recently come under scrutiny after a leaked recording appeared to show him coaching Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to Vladimir Putin, on negotiation tactics beneficial to Russia.
Since Trump's return to office, Witkoff has held the positions of US special envoy to the Middle East and special envoy for peace missions. He was instrumental, alongside Jared Kushner, in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas earlier this year. His business background includes lucrative dealings in the Middle East and a close relationship with the Qatari government, a reported key funder for his Witkoff Group.
Previously, during Trump's first term, he was a member of the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups, formed to address the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kirill Dmitriev: The Sanctioned Kremlin Insider
On the Russian side, Kirill Dmitriev, the Harvard-educated head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), plays a pivotal role. Despite limited diplomatic experience, he was appointed as a special presidential envoy for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation on 23 February this year.
Dmitriev and the RDIF have been under US sanctions since 2022, prohibiting American entities from engaging with them. A close ally of Putin, he is known to have clashed with other figures in the Russian president's inner circle, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and aide Yury Ushakov, during meetings with American officials in Saudi Arabia in February.
He has held multiple meetings with Trump's closest advisers, including Witkoff and Jared Kushner. His coordination with Kushner during the first Trump administration on the delivery of Russian ventilators to the US raised concerns at the Treasury Department about potential sanctions violations.
Marco Rubio & Dan Driscoll: The Administration's Voices
Within the Trump administration, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been a leading voice, recently describing the US-Ukraine talks as "productive" while acknowledging much work remains. The former Florida senator played a key role in Israel-Gaza ceasefire talks. Earlier this year, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine stalled following a phone call between Rubio and Lavrov, where the Russian diplomat allegedly infuriated Washington with maximalist demands.
Another significant figure is US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, a friend and former Yale Law School classmate of Vice President JD Vance. A former soldier and investment banker, Driscoll's high-level involvement comes amid reported distrust in Secretary of War Peter Hegseth. Experienced in drone technology, Driscoll has previously expressed respect for Ukraine's ingenuity in leveraging its limited resources.
The path to peace remains fraught with challenges, as these key players navigate deep-seated tensions and competing proposals. The world watches closely to see if this intense diplomatic activity can translate into a lasting resolution to the conflict.
