Europe Fears Trump May Sideline EU in Russia Talks
Europe fears Trump may sideline the EU as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prepare for Moscow talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Politico reports.
European leaders are watching with concern as U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of the American president, prepare for a trip to Russia, Politico reports.
According to the publication, the prospect of Witkoff and Kushner traveling to Moscow has intensified fears in Europe that Donald Trump may seek to conduct negotiations without involving European countries.
The authors note that, after addressing the Iranian issue, Trump may shift his focus to the Ukrainian conflict. This renewed interest from the head of the White House has caused unease among European Union officials.
The EU had hoped to push Washington toward its own line of action. However, possible direct contacts between American negotiators and Moscow are now being viewed in Europe as a source of uncertainty.
European officials fear that the U.S. president could sideline them and disrupt the strategy of applying maximum pressure on Russia while fully supporting Ukraine. At the same time, EU representatives who want to steer the White House toward their approach are trying to avoid a clash with Trump during the G7 summit currently taking place in France.
The visit by Witkoff and Kushner was agreed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and U. S. President Donald Trump during a phone call on June 14. The following day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the American negotiators would arrive in Moscow in the foreseeable future.
Witkoff and Kushner last visited the Russian capital in January 2026. Their meeting with the Russian president lasted more than three hours and focused on efforts to settle the Ukrainian conflict. After the talks, Witkoff said the sides had achieved notable progress, while further work depended on resolving one key issue.