Ukraine Peace Talks Intensify: Meet the Key Players Behind the Diplomatic Push

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In a bid to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, top officials from the US, Ukraine, and Russia have been crisscrossing the globe for high-stakes negotiations. At the forefront of these talks are several key players who have been working behind the scenes to secure a peace deal. One of these individuals is Witkoff, a seasoned real estate magnate and close friend of US President Donald Trump. Witkoff has played a crucial role in negotiating complex deals, including those aimed at ending the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. His ties to Trump have given him unique access to the administration, allowing him to facilitate dialogue with Russian officials. Another key player is Rubio, the US Secretary of State, who has been leading talks with the Ukrainian side. Rubio recently headed the US delegation in Geneva, where amendments were introduced to the US-Russia brokered peace plan that heavily favored Russia. His efforts have been instrumental in pushing the negotiations forward. Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and former White House adviser, has also been involved in the Ukraine peace talks. As a businessman and investor, Kushner has a proven track record of brokering deals, including a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas earlier this year. His involvement in the Ukraine talks has been significant, with meetings in Florida with the Ukrainian side and in Moscow with Russian officials. Driscoll, the US Army Secretary, has emerged as an unlikely but crucial player in the push to end the war in Ukraine. An Iraq War veteran and friend of US Vice President JD Vance, Driscoll has presented Trump's plan to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv and later sat down with Russian officials in the United Arab Emirates to discuss the proposals. On the Ukrainian side, Umerov has taken the reins as leader of the delegation in peace talks with US officials in Florida. A seasoned politician with experience as defense minister and head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, Umerov has been heavily involved in all key rounds of negotiations since the full-scale war broke out. Russia's Ushakov, a longtime diplomat, has been a key player in the country's talks with the US. With experience as Russia's ambassador to the US and a fluency in English and Danish, Ushakov has been instrumental in facilitating dialogue with US officials. Dmitriev, a former investment banker turned head of Russia's sovereign wealth, has emerged as a key player in the US-led effort to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Despite lacking diplomatic credentials, Dmitriev has served as a back-channel communicator between the Kremlin and Trump allies, despite being on the US sanctions list. Finally, Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov has been a formidable interlocutor in the talks. With years of experience in defending Russian policy and a fluency in English, Lavrov has been a key player in Russia's talks with the US. He has attended high-level meetings and held phone conversations with Rubio, pushing Russian demands and working towards a peace deal.