Recent media coverage has highlighted the involvement of American businessman Steve Witkoff, who served as a special envoy under Donald Trump, in peace negotiations regarding Ukraine. This situation illuminates broader concerns about prioritizing dealmakers over experienced diplomats in sensitive international conflicts.
Traditionally, diplomats carry out complex negotiations grounded in understanding history, culture, and international law. The growing trend to rely on dealmakers—business figures skilled in brokering commercial agreements—may undermine this expertise.
Business dealmakers often focus on quick, transactional results. This approach contrasts with diplomacy, which requires patience, behind-the-scenes relationship building, and an appreciation of nuanced political realities. The risk is that peace efforts become more about making a deal than achieving a sustainable resolution.
In Ukraine’s context, where the situation involves deep-rooted conflicts and geopolitical complexities, relying on dealmakers risks oversimplifying issues. The broader implications of peace agreements—security guarantees, sovereignty, and long-term stability—demand thorough diplomatic care.
The involvement of non-traditional envoys like Witkoff suggests a potential deviation from established diplomatic protocols. This raises questions about accountability, consistency, and the ability to address the complex realities of war and peace.
“Replacing experienced diplomats with dealmakers may jeopardize the intricacies needed for durable peace.”
This trend may reflect a growing privatization and commercialization of diplomacy, where dealmaking skills are prized over diplomatic prudence. While business acumen can add value, it cannot substitute the deep understanding and measured strategies that professional diplomats bring.
The rising preference for business dealmakers over seasoned diplomats in Ukraine’s peace efforts exposes risks of prioritizing transactional deals at the expense of thoughtful, sustainable diplomacy.