Two people familiar with U.S.–Russia contacts told Politico that Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev made the proposal to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during a meeting last week in Miami. U.S. officials declined the offer, the people said.
“Nevertheless, the sheer existence of such a proposal has sparked concern among European diplomats, who worry Moscow is trying to drive a wedge between Europe and the United States at a critical moment for transatlantic relations,” the report said.
The White House declined to comment. The Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
A European diplomat told Politico the proposal was “outrageous” and said it was likely to reinforce European suspicions that meetings between Witkoff and Dmitriev have produced little progress toward a Ukraine peace deal. Instead, the diplomat said, Moscow may be trying to draw Washington into a broad bilateral alignment that sidelines Europe.
Politico cited another source who noted that French President Emmanuel Macron said in January that France supplies about two-thirds of Western intelligence being provided to Ukraine.
The United States has continued to share intelligence with
Ukraine, despite reductions in other forms of support. Washington briefly
suspended intelligence sharing in February 2025 after a disastrous Oval Office
meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy, but the exchange resumed March 11, 2025.