- December 22, 2025
- 12:23 pm
- World News
Washington awoke to the second term of U.S. President Donald Trump already in a different power configuration. One of the key players of his first administration formally remained outside government positions, focusing on business. But in practice, he once again found himself at the epicenter of foreign policy.
This refers to Jared Kushner. Almost a year after the start of the conditional “Trump 2.0,” he returned to the diplomatic process, taking on an unofficial but noticeable role in the most sensitive negotiations — from the Middle East to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Initially, almost all the burden was carried by the president’s special envoy Steve Witkoff — a developer who until recently had no experience in public service. However, according to several current and former administration officials, Trump’s inner circle concluded that a person with a more nuanced diplomatic background was needed to reach compromises in complex deals.
That person once again became Kushner.
He has already proven his usefulness in the past. Together with Trump’s team, Kushner played a key role in the conclusion of the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states. This experience is still considered one of Trump’s most tangible foreign policy successes in Washington.
In recent weeks, Kushner and Witkoff have been working in tandem. They participated in the final stages of negotiations on a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, signed in October. They then sharply expanded the geography of diplomacy.
In Miami, they completed two-day negotiations with Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, discussing proposals to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. These contacts continued a series of meetings in Florida with a Ukrainian delegation led by Rustem Umerov, as well as with representatives of the national security services of the UK, France, and Germany.
Simultaneously, Kushner and Witkoff held consultations with Turkish and Qatari officials, focusing on the second phase of Trump’s plan for Gaza — the part concerning long-term security and the future governance model of the sector.
However, the tandem faces plenty of criticism. Within the administration, Witkoff is perceived as a person with excessive ambitions and a tendency for public self-promotion. His frequent flights around the world on a private jet and demonstrative compliments towards Trump irritate some European partners.
Kushner, in turn, raises concerns due to his extensive business interests in the Middle East. Investments related to Saudi Arabia and the Qatari sovereign fund, as well as the overall style of “business diplomacy,” have become subjects of criticism from Democrats and humanitarian organizations. Nevertheless, according to Western diplomats, Kushner is considered a more balanced and predictable negotiator — especially amid concerns that Witkoff is too soft on Moscow’s interests.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly notes: Kushner has real successes, but overestimating his capabilities is dangerous. Too many factors today go beyond personal diplomacy.
The White House, however, makes it clear: trust in him remains high. According to Deputy Press Secretary Emma Kelly, Trump considers Kushner a “family confidant and talented advisor.” His opinion is regularly sought by both the president and Witkoff.
At the same time, Kushner himself emphasizes: his involvement is temporary. He intends to return to life in Miami and managing a multi-billion-dollar private equity fund. But the reality is that immediately after stabilizing the situation between Israel and Hamas, Trump once again involved him in negotiations on Russia and Ukraine — an issue that remains open and increasingly toxic.
Thus, a person without a formal position once again becomes part of the global decision-making architecture. And it is this unofficial, family-trust format that increasingly influences the international agenda, closely monitored by NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency.
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