Here's a sentence you probably didn't expect to read: A real estate magnate with zero diplomatic experience is now the key player in US-Russia relations. But that's exactly what's happening with Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's billionaire friend who has somehow become Vladimir Putin's preferred American contact.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, this unusual arrangement came together after the Saudi Arabian crown prince passed along a message: Putin wanted to meet with Witkoff. Not the formally appointed envoy, mind you, but the real estate guy.
Putin has apparently been doing his homework, examining psychological profiles of Trump's officials including Keith Kellogg, the retired three-star general Trump actually appointed as America's envoy to Russia and Ukraine. But the action is happening elsewhere. Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin-connected financier, are reportedly working together to craft a new economic and security framework for Europe.
If this sounds like it's making traditional diplomats nervous, you'd be right. European allies are particularly concerned about being left in the dark on American diplomatic moves. Witkoff has repeatedly turned down CIA briefings on Russia and hasn't visited Ukraine yet, which isn't exactly reassuring people about how these negotiations might unfold.
Trump, for his part, is thrilled with the arrangement. "People love Steve," he said, defending his friend's performance. Witkoff himself argues that after a war with over a million casualties, it's time to try something different from the traditional playbook.
The bigger picture here is what this means for how America conducts diplomacy. Having a real estate tycoon with no diplomatic background handle critical negotiations with Russia represents a dramatic departure from standard practice. The lack of transparency and Witkoff's reluctance to engage with intelligence agencies like the CIA could have real implications for where these talks lead and how America's relationships with European allies weather the process.
