(MOSCOW) – Former UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has raised concerns about the direction of the latest Ukraine peace discussions, warning that the involvement of United States envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner risks blending business interests with diplomacy in ways that may undermine Ukraine’s position. Speaking on Times Radio, Hague said the current approach could leave Ukraine exposed at a moment when it needs firm support from its partners.
Hague noted that Ukraine remains a central issue in international diplomacy, with recent small developments suggesting some movement toward talks. However, he said he did not believe these efforts were any closer to producing a fair or workable agreement. He argued that any deal emerging from the ongoing Moscow negotiations involving Witkoff, Kushner and the Russian dictator would likely be damaging to Ukraine’s sovereignty.
He explained that Russia continues to push for terms that would weaken Ukraine as an independent state, including restrictions on its territory, military strength and its right to choose international alliances. Hague said these conditions remain completely unacceptable to Ukraine, making any near term agreement improbable.
Hague also expressed concern that the mission to Moscow did not include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been the main figure engaging with Ukrainian, British and European negotiators. The absence of Rubio, he said, may indicate an unfavourable direction for the talks.
Some analysts suggest that former US leader Donald Trump may have selected Witkoff and Kushner to gain a more favourable reception from Moscow, as both are perceived as more sympathetic to Russian positions compared to other senior US officials. However, Hague and other experts argue that any agreement reached without clear Ukrainian consent would be rejected by Western partners.
Reports in the US media have highlighted that Witkoff has travelled to Russia on six occasions since his appointment but has not visited Ukraine. The reporting also points to concerns that proposals being discussed may be influenced by potential future business opportunities related to reconstruction in Ukraine or access to land and commercial ventures in Russia.
Hague said this merging of private and public interests reflects a broader trend within the Trump administration, where the line between government responsibilities and personal business ties appears increasingly blurred. He emphasised that this approach contrasts sharply with long established practices in Western governments, where diplomatic work is kept separate from private commercial activities.
He said the involvement of Kushner, whose main qualification is his family connection to Trump, and Witkoff, known for his real estate background, raises questions about the suitability of those leading negotiations that could affect millions of people across Europe.
