Steve Witkoff, the real estate mogul turned key diplomatic confidant of US President Donald Trump, has emerged as an unexpected but central figure in high-level global peace efforts – garnering support from influential Trump allies such as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Despite not holding an official diplomatic title until recently, Witkoff has conducted a series of unorthodox but impactful negotiations, culminating in his latest closed-door meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 11.

According to reports from Moscow, Witkoff and Putin engaged in over four hours of discussions centered on the potential settlement of the Russia Ukraine conflict. While the Kremlin offered only a brief statement confirming the meeting’s focus, the diplomatic community is abuzz with speculation that these talks could represent a major turning point in ending the protracted war in Ukraine – and, more broadly, recalibrating US-Russia relations under a possible second Trump administration.

Following his Moscow meeting, Witkoff reportedly flew to Oman for high-level discussions concerning Iran’s nuclear ambitions – suggesting a broader diplomatic mission encompassing some of the world’s most intractable conflicts. With Trump widely expected to challenge Joe Biden in the 2024 US presidential election, Witkoff’s activities are being closely monitored, both as a harbinger of a potential shift in foreign policy and as a new model of unconventional diplomacy.

Steve Witkoff’s rise to international diplomacy is as surprising as it is unprecedented. Known primarily for his work in real estate development, Witkoff transitioned from a........

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