An important American envoy involved in efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine demonstrated a „shocking” lack of knowledge about the Ukrainian political system and the war itself while speaking to a small group of reporters.
The official is engaged in high-level negotiations with both Moscow and Kiev, writes Kiev Independent, without specifying his name. However, it is known that Washington is represented particularly in negotiations by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump.
During a discussion with reporters, the American official incorrectly claimed that Kirilo Budanov, recently appointed head of the Presidential Cabinet and former head of military intelligence, is now the Vice President of Ukraine.
"General Budanov is now their Vice President," the official said.
But Ukraine does not have a Vice President. According to the Constitution, the President is the head of state, and if the President is unable to perform his duties, they temporarily pass to the Speaker of Parliament.
The head of the Presidential Cabinet is the chief advisor and chief of staff to the President, overseeing daily operations, coordinating policies between government agencies, and managing relations with Parliament, security institutions, and foreign partners.
The role is influential but does not confer executive powers.
The same American official also appeared to be unaware of key facts about the war's timeline. When asked if Trump's peace efforts aimed to end the war by February 24, when the fifth year is marked, the official suggested they did not know when the large-scale invasion began.
"I didn't know when the war started," the top American envoy replied.
The official went on to inaccurately claim that Russia's large-scale war against Ukraine has lasted longer than World War II.
"I think it's the longest war now. It was longer than World War II. At this point, it continues," the official added.
This statement is incorrect. Russia launched its large-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, and the war will enter its fifth year next month.
World War II began in September 1939 with the Nazi Germany invasion of Poland and ended in 1945, making it a longer conflict overall.
Why It Matters
The remarks of the American official have heightened concerns in Kiev about the composition and preparedness of Washington's negotiating team.
Trump's envoys tasked with ending the war in Russia lack diplomatic experience, a departure from past American practice. Oleksandr Merejko, head of the foreign affairs committee of the Ukrainian Parliament, described the situation as deeply troubling.
"This is a serious issue," Merejko told Kiev Independent. "The envoy has already made several major mistakes - both technical and, fundamentally, serious diplomatic ones," he emphasized.
Merejko said the American official seems susceptible to Russian narratives and approaches negotiations in a transactional manner rather than a political or legal one.
"For example, they see territorial issues as real estate. This is completely wrong. They don't know the basics - the foundations of politics, history, international law," Merejko said.
Former US Ambassador to Ukraine, Steven Pifer, told Kiev Independent that the American official also lacks experienced advisers on Russia and Ukraine.
"In contrast, Putin, who has a deep understanding of the details of these negotiations, is usually accompanied by his foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, who was Russia's ambassador to the United States for nine years," Pifer added.
Influence within the US Delegation
Alexandra Filippenko, an expert in US-Russia relations, described the official as "simply someone Trump trusts," rather than an experienced diplomat, explaining why such a sensitive portfolio was entrusted to him.
Christian Caryl, an editor at Foreign Policy, said this case fits into a long-standing pattern in American diplomacy, where individuals with little experience are appointed to ambassadorial positions as a reward for campaign contributions or loyalty to the president.
"That being said, I don't think we've ever seen a case as extreme as this with the American official. It is clear that this lack of awareness presents serious risks for Ukraine," Caryl added.
John Haltiwanger, an editor at Foreign Policy, added that the portfolio handed to the American official by the Trump administration would be extremely challenging even for someone with extensive experience in diplomacy and geopolitics.
"In general, such discussions are led by the Secretary of State or career diplomats, who are often assisted and advised by a team of field experts and other officials," Haltiwanger added.
Merejko was more direct in assessing the role of the American official, calling him "very naive" and "inexperienced," and saying he sometimes makes "shocking" statements, arguing that he should be completely removed from the delegation.
A source within the president's office told Kiev Independent that within the American delegation, Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, is becoming increasingly dominant, exerting more influence on the discussions than other team members.
"Even Kushner seems more professional," Merejko said, adding that he seems to have been included in the team "to play the role of some kind of commissioner."
"President Trump is returning to a more traditional style of diplomacy, where it is not led by experts, but by someone close and trusted by the leader," said Nicholas Westcott, a professor of diplomatic practice at SOAS University and a former diplomat.
"This can work well for simple issues, but for complex, often deeply historical issues like Ukraine, it is a handicap not to have diplomatic experience in the region," he emphasized.
As negotiations resume, the risk is not only a poor image but also flawed decision-making, at a time when diplomacy touches on core issues for Ukraine's survival.