Witkov and Kushner postpone their visit to Moscow...the reason is Zelensky

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Amid the tense relationship between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, following Trump's sudden decision to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel fuel, informed sources revealed that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have suspended their upcoming visit to Russia.

The sources added that this postponement was due to the tense relationship between Zelensky and Trump, as the two American envoys stipulated that the relationship be repaired in order to resume the visit, according to what was reported by the New York Times.

The US President's decision to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel fuel shocked Ukrainian and European officials who were meeting with American envoys at the luxury Shell Bay golf club owned by Wytkov outside Miami, last Friday.

Senior officials from Ukraine and Europe had headed to the club for talks with Trump's peace envoys, where they were scheduled to discuss updated proposals to end the war in Ukraine before a new trip to Russia that Witkopf and Kushner were expected to make.

But Witkoff and Kushner announced something that surprised the audience and the world later when the news became public. They informed delegations that the United States would suspend sanctions on Russian diesel fuel. They added that Trump has a clear request from Ukraine: to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries.

While one of the Ukrainian officials asked what Kyiv would get in return.

The two American envoys responded that the United States was already doing a lot for Ukraine, and should not be forced to offer anything in exchange for Kiev to stop attacking Russian refineries, according to three people familiar with the meeting.

They then pointed to US intelligence assistance, which is a vital component of the Ukrainian war effort.

While two informed sources revealed that some attendees considered this a veiled threat.

But an American official denied that there was any threat to stop this support, acknowledging at the same time that Trump's anger at Kiev had reached a level that made it difficult to predict what he might do.

Note that from the perspective of the Ukrainians and their European allies, attacks on Russian fuel refineries are Kiev's most effective means of responding to the Russian bombing of the Ukrainian energy network. Zelensky had announced his country's readiness to stop targeting energy infrastructure if Russia did the same. But Russia rejected such an agreement.

However, Trump saw these attacks as a challenge to an American administration that continued to provide intelligence support and some military aid to Ukraine despite his sharp criticism of Zelensky, according to the American newspaper.

Diesel prices in particular have become a sensitive point for Trump, as they have raised costs for farmers as the harvest season approaches and a few weeks before the midterm elections. Trump told reporters last Saturday, referring to Zelensky and Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries: "He better stop immediately... He wants to create problems for the world... He wants to create problems for our farmers and ranchers."

Trump also said in a post on social media last Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a “ceasefire agreement in the energy sector,” but neither party confirmed this.

While a person familiar with his thinking explained that Trump only meant a halt to attacks on refineries in both countries, even though Ukraine’s refining capacity had been severely damaged in the early stages of the war.

Trump repeated the same position yesterday evening as well, as he told reporters at the White House: “They agreed because I said they agreed,” in reference to the ceasefire he announced. He added: "I actually think that Putin wants to reach an agreement more than Zelensky."

Last Friday, Zelensky described Trump's decision to allow the import of Russian diesel fuel for the purpose of reducing prices as a "weak decision."

While Trump responded on Saturday, saying that Ukraine needs a "new president."

Meanwhile, European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, issued statements of support for Zelensky.

Members of Congress also criticized the agreement, considering that it helps finance the Russian war machine.