The Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner show in Moscow

Two of Donald Trump's most trusted "envoys" arrive in Moscow today for what could be a total waste of time when they meet with Vladimir Putin. Steve Witkoff, special envoy for Ukraine and everywhere else, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, will be bringing with them the latest version of the original 28-point pro-Moscow peace plan. Putin has had time to look at it and I imagine that he has already applied the blue pencil through all the clauses which favour Ukraine. But Witkoff and Kushner can't return to Washington with nothing, so Putin will be clever. He will make a big number about how he wants peace, too, and will praise Trump for all his efforts and might even suggest that he is prepared to make some concessions. This will mean that he won't anger Trump but he will keep him sweet, and Trump will be able to claim that great progress has been made in Moscow, and hopes for an end to the war have been raised. But in reality it will all be smoke and mirrors, with Putin the conjuror behind the scenes, manipulating everyone. Whatever comes out of the Moscow meeting, it won't end the war in Ukraine and it won't do any favours to poor President Zelensky. PLEASE BUY AGENT REDRUTH, MY NEW SPY THRILLER, AS A GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. ORDER THROUGH AMAZON.