Trump puts fate of world’s top conflicts in the hands of two men
The Straits Times
The pair’s frantic bid to quell conflicts were a stark illustration of Mr Trump’s diplomatic strategy. Read more at straitstimes.com.
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump put his son-in-law Jared Kushner and longtime friend Steve Witkoff in charge of resolving the war in Ukraine and a standoff with Iran.
On Feb 26, they juggled those momentous issues within hours of each other.
Dispatched to Geneva, Switzerland, Mr Kushner and Mr Witkoff met Iranian officials at the Omani ambassador’s residence in a bid to seal a deal over Tehran’s nuclear programme and avoid what could be a massive strike by US and Israeli forces.
Hours later, they shuttled across town to the Intercontinental Hotel to huddle with Ukrainian officials as the Russian invasion enters its fifth year.
They then shifted to the Four Seasons to meet envoys from both Russia and Ukraine on separate floors, before heading back to the Omani ambassador’s.
They were expected to depart later on Feb 26 to return to the US.
The ships had been at sea for quite some time due to military operations. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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ISTANBUL, March 25 - Turkey \"is playing a role passing messages\" between Iran and the U.S. to encourage de-escalation and direct negotiations, Harun Armagan, vice chair of foreign affairs for President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, told Reuters on Wednesday. Read more at straitstimes.com.