The Struggle of Rubio and Witkoff: Who Shapes the U.S. Peace Plan for Ukraine.

According to ТСН: There is an ongoing struggle for influence between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Presidential Representative Steven Witkoff in negotiations with Ukraine.

It is known that Rubio planned to attend the peace talks with Ukrainian officials in Switzerland, but Witkoff traveled there earlier without informing Rubio and other State Department representatives.

This is not the first time that Witkoff's actions have been perceived as an attempt to sideline Rubio. This situation indicates ongoing disagreements between them, who have completely different views on how to resolve the war in Ukraine and on trusting Russia's promises.

"They seem to be singing on different notes," said former career diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to NATO Alexander Vershbow. "And if you don’t have a common understanding of the issues and your opponent at the negotiating table, this cannot lead to a good outcome," he added.

Witkoff is trying to wrap up a deal quickly, as required by Trump, and insists on proposals that force Ukraine to make concessions, relinquish territory, and risk its security. At the same time, Rubio and other officials in the administration believe that significant economic and military pressure on Russia is needed to force Putin to make concessions and secure a safe future for Ukraine.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott denied any disagreements between Rubio and Witkoff, and Rubio himself also noted positive qualities in Witkoff, calling him a "phenomenal person." However, some U.S. officials express concerns about Witkoff's approaches, as they could pose security risks.

It is critically important how the disagreements between Rubio and Witkoff develop, as this could influence the outcome of the war in Ukraine and how America appears in the eyes of its allies and adversaries.

Witkoff has gained support from Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is assisting him in the latest negotiations. Although Kushner does not hold an official position, his influence over Trump is significant, and he has reportedly played a key role in achieving a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

For Trump, Witkoff is a reliable partner, but critics argue that he often takes Russian arguments at face value.

"He is a gift to the Russians," said one official.

Meeting with Macron

Competitions often arise within the White House administrations, but the way Rubio is ceding ground to a newcomer in complex negotiations raises concerns.

An episode in France stands out: Rubio was supposed to travel to Paris for negotiations regarding Ukraine but learned that Witkoff had already arranged a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron. Rubio tried to join the meeting but faced a series of failures.

Finally, he managed to meet with Macron during the trip, but conflicts between Witkoff and Rubio continue to escalate.

After the Geneva negotiations, Witkoff also arranged a meeting with Ukrainian officials in Florida, which Rubio only learned about through inquiries from the Ukrainians.

One administration official stated that "it is obvious that Rubio has been excluded from this process. He should be the one in charge of all of this."

John Herbst, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, noted: "Witkoff realizes that Rubio's understanding of Russia differs from his own, and since he is competitive, he believes he can overcome that."

Security Issues

Besides disagreements in negotiations, Witkoff also had disputes with Rubio and State Department officials over security during trips to Russia.

Since the beginning of the administration, they have been quarreling over ensuring safe communication and the security of Witkoff’s plane.

There were fears that performing duties without using secure communication could be dangerous.

Witkoff developed a peace plan that was later revised after Rubio's intervention, and some concerning provisions were removed or altered, including a ban on deploying American fighter jets in Poland.

While the peace proposal is still being discussed, Russia criticizes the changes and demands a return to the original plan.

Meanwhile, in Miami, the U.S. delegation had separate meetings with Ukrainian and Russian representatives, yet Rubio was not mentioned in them.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the Ukrainian negotiating team is returning from the U.S.

Despite internal disagreements, negotiations continue, and how conflicts among American officials are resolved will determine the further course of events in Ukraine. Observers from all sides are closely following these developments, as they could significantly impact the strategy of the U.S. and its partners in the region.