Washington reacted sharply to a Financial Times report on an alleged upcoming change in the U.S. negotiating team on Ukraine. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly called the piece "absolutely fake news" and emphasized that no discussions are underway to transfer the relevant authority to the CIA director. The statement came against the backdrop of the outlet's attempt to portray the diplomatic track on Ukraine and Russia as having effectively hit a dead end and requiring a new push.
Denial from the White House
According to RBC-Ukraine, Anna Kelly stated that President Donald Trump "fully trusts" Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to conduct the negotiation process on behalf of the United States. "This entire story is absolutely fake news, attributed to low-level anonymous 'sources' who have no idea what they are talking about. None of these so-called conversations is taking place. Special envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner continue to work incredibly persistently toward reaching a peace agreement," she said. In doing so, the administration publicly confirmed that the composition and mandate of the negotiators have not changed.
What the Financial Times reported
Earlier, the Financial Times reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe could take on a more prominent role in U.S. negotiations with Ukraine and Russia. According to the FT, Washington is seeking to give a new impetus to a diplomatic process that, by sources' assessment, has long remained effectively stuck. At the same time, per the publication, Witkoff would most likely retain his post as U.S. special representative for peace missions, which also covers negotiations in the Middle East. In other words, by the outlet's account, the issue was not a dismissal but a redistribution of roles within the team.
Contradictory data
The two sides' accounts diverge on the substance. The Financial Times, citing sources, claims a planned strengthening of the CIA director's role and a reduction in Witkoff's and Kushner's involvement. The White House categorically denies the very fact of such discussions, calling the piece a product of "low-level anonymous sources." An additional contradiction concerns the comment procedure: the FT and some observers noted that the administration allegedly refused to provide a comment, whereas Kelly stated that the outlet published the piece ahead of the agreed deadline, which is why the White House simply did not have time to provide an official position. The spokesperson also accused the FT of "descending to the level of a left-wing tabloid" with no interest in accurate information.
Context of the negotiating track
Amid the public dispute over the publication, one fact remains unchanged: formally, according to the White House, the U.S. negotiating team on Ukraine has not changed, and Witkoff and Kushner continue their work on a peace agreement. The actual state of the diplomatic track, and whether it is truly stuck, as the FT's sources claim, or actively moving forward, as Washington asserts, remains a matter of debate. Only the dynamics of the negotiations themselves in the coming weeks may put a final point to this question.
