Trump envoy pushes post-war energy deal linking Ukraine, Europe and Russia
Steve Witkoff, a Trump special envoy, met with Ukrainian presidential chief Kyrylo Boudanov at a Florida golf club to discuss a regional prosperity plan that would restart Russian gas pipelines through Ukraine.
At the upscale Shell Bay golf club in Hallandale Beach, Florida, Steve Witkoff, acting as a special envoy for Donald Trump, convened with Kyrylo Boudanov, head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, alongside Jared Kushner. Rather than focusing on ongoing peace negotiations, Witkoff promoted a regional prosperity scheme that would fully reactivate Russian gas and oil pipelines running through Ukraine. He argued the initiative would generate dividend payments for Kyiv and help reduce Europe's energy costs.
Boudanov appeared visibly irritated, describing the approach as patronising. The proposal was framed as a mutually beneficial post-war agreement involving Ukraine, Europe and Russia.
Why it matters
The meeting hints at a shift toward commercial deals that could reshape Europe's energy supply and Ukraine's post-war recovery.
How this story developed
- Oct 3 India and Russia agree to bring 70,000 Indian workers amid expanded trade talks
- Oct 22 EU officials began diplomatic talks with the United Kingdom and Canada to close the €70 billion financing gap.
- Oct 22 Missile and drone attacks hit Kyiv, injuring civilians, after the Witkoff‑Putin meeting.
- Oct 22 Seven people were killed and dozens wounded in multiple Ukrainian cities after the meeting, marking the deadliest wave of attacks since the talks began.
- Oct 22 Zelensky said Russia backs a three-way meeting with the United States, which is pushing for an early-November date, even as missile and drone attacks continue.
- Oct 22 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Russia hit Kyiv overnight with three ballistic missiles carrying cluster munition warheads.
- Oct 23 The tanker Agioi Fanendes has set sail for the United States.
- Oct 23 Russia announced it is prepared to re‑engage in trilateral peace talks that could be held in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November.
- Oct 24 Trump signed a diesel trade deal with Russia and temporarily lifted parts of new sanctions.
- Oct 24 Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed three diesel‑laden tankers have departed for North American ports.
- Oct 25 Russia announced readiness to restart three‑party negotiations with Ukraine and the United States.
- Oct 25 Zelensky said Ukraine will not attend the summit unless the existing sanctions on Russia stay in place.
- Oct 26 Zelensky confirmed the summit and announced humanitarian missions in Olechky under a short cease‑fire.
- Oct 26 Zelensky suggested the summit could also be held alongside the G20 meeting in Florida.
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