US senator calls for new Trump envoys, criticizes Ukraine peace plan

US Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, has called for President Donald Trump to replace his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are involved in a “peace plan” concerning Ukraine, arguing that they have acted in Russia’s interests rather than serving as impartial mediators.

The senator expressed deep concern over Trump’s approach, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

“I am deeply concerned that he [Trump] appears to be abandoning Ukraine to its fate. He is forcing it to make territorial concessions that are unjust and unwise, and depriving it of the military aid needed to defend against Putin's slaughter,” Blumenthal said.

Regarding the ongoing talks, he added that they appear “completely one-sided in the way Trump’s envoys have conducted them,” noting that Ukraine is being subjected to multiple conditions while Russia faces none.

“They [Witkoff and Kushner] seem biased against Ukraine. I think Trump needs new envoys – Witkoff and Kushner seem to side with Russia instead of being neutral or objective negotiators. And the entire ‘peace plan’ needs to be thrown out. They need to go back to square one,” he said.

Blumenthal also criticized Trump’s call for elections in Ukraine, arguing that it constitutes a form of appeasement toward Vladimir Putin. “Trump seems to be appeasing Putin. And elections are just another step in what he is trying to do for Putin. Putin does not hold elections. Zelenskyy has no need to either,” the senator said.

The Financial Times recently reported that Trump hopes to reach a deal “by Christmas,” while unnamed officials from Trump’s team told the Wall Street Journal that the administration is not pressuring Kyiv to accept any settlement that the Ukrainian side considers unacceptable.

By Vafa Guliyeva