Trump Praises Meeting Between Witkoff, Kushner, and Putin Sparks Diplomatic Hopes

Jared Corey Kushner, born January 10, 1981, in Livingston, New Jersey, is an American businessman, investor, and former senior advisor to President Donald Trump. He is the son of real estate developer Charles Kushner and took over Kushner Companies after his father's legal troubles. Kushner built a notable career in real estate, including the 2007 purchase of 666 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan for $1.8 billion, and acquiring the New York Observer newspaper in 2006, where he served as publisher. Kushner married Ivanka Trump in 2009, linking him to the Trump family. He played a significant role in Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, managing digital strategy and social media, and was instrumental in creating the campaign’s proprietary voter database. In January 2017, Kushner was appointed senior advisor to President Trump, leading initiatives such as criminal justice reform, notably helping pass the First Step Act in 2018, and spearheading efforts in the Middle East peace process, authoring the Trump peace plan and facilitating the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states in 2020. During his White House tenure, Kushner directed the Office of American Innovation, aiming to apply private-sector practices to government operations. His involvement in the 2016 campaign and subsequent contacts with Russian officials drew scrutiny during investigations into election interference, though he denied any wrongdoing. After leaving the White House in 2021, Kushner moved to Florida and began private equity ventures. In 2022, he published a memoir titled *Breaking History: A White House Memoir*. He and Ivanka Trump have since focused on their family and business interests, notably stepping back from active roles in Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. Kushner remains relevant as a figure blending political influence with business and diplomatic engagements, including recent involvement in Middle East-related initiatives[1][2][4][7].

Vladimir Putin is the current President of Russia, a position he has held for multiple terms since 2000, with a brief interlude as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012[1][3]. Born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in 1952, Putin began his career in the Soviet Union’s security services, joining the KGB in 1975 and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the time he left in 1991, following postings in East Germany and Leningrad[4]. After the Soviet Union’s collapse, he transitioned into politics, serving as an adviser to Saint Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak and later moving to Moscow, where he held various administrative roles under President Boris Yeltsin[6]. Putin was appointed Prime Minister in August 1999 and became acting President when Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned that December[3][6]. He won his first presidential election in March 2000, promising to stabilize Russia’s economy and political system after the tumultuous 1990s[3][7]. During his initial terms, he centralized power, reasserted federal control over Russia’s regions, and curtailed the influence of the country’s oligarchs through legal and economic measures[7]. Putin was re-elected in 2004 but, due to constitutional term limits, stepped aside in 2008, becoming Prime Minister under his successor Dmitry Medvedev, while retaining significant influence[3]. Constitutional amendments later extended presidential terms, and Putin returned to the presidency in 2012[1]. Putin’s time in office has been marked by assertive foreign policy, including military interventions in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad and the 2014 annexation of Crimea, which led to international sanctions[1]. Domestically, his tenure has seen increased state control over media, the suppression of political opposition, and constitutional changes consolidating executive authority[1]. In 2022, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggered a major international crisis, further isolating Russia from the West and prompting widespread condemnation[1]. As of 2025, Putin remains a dominant figure in Russian politics, having secured another term in office through constitutional changes that allow him to potentially remain president until 2036[1]. His leadership continues to shape Russia’s domestic trajectory and its role in global affairs, amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine and strained relations with NATO and Western countries[1].

Donald John Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, is an American businessman, media personality, and politician. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1968 with a degree in economics. In 1971, he took over his family’s real estate business, renaming it the Trump Organization, through which he expanded into building and managing skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump gained widespread fame as the host of the reality TV show *The Apprentice* from 2004 to 2015, which helped establish his public persona as a successful entrepreneur. Trump entered politics as a Republican and was elected the 45th president of the United States, serving from 2017 to 2021. His presidency was marked by significant policy actions including tax cuts, deregulation, the appointment of three Supreme Court justices, renegotiation of trade agreements (notably replacing NAFTA with the USMCA), and a focus on immigration control including border wall expansion. He withdrew the U.S. from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran nuclear deal, and engaged in a trade war with China. His administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was criticized for downplaying the virus’s severity. Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives—first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection—but was acquitted by the Senate both times. After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump challenged the results, culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He remains a central figure in American politics, having won the 2024 presidential election and returned as the 47th president in 2025, continuing to promote policies aimed at economic growth, border security, and military strength[1][2][3][4].