CNN National Security Analyst Slams Jared Kushner Over Ukraine Proposal: 'Absolutely Abhorrent'

CNN national security analyst Alex Plitsas on Monday slammed U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff over their “abhorrent” comments on the war in Ukraine, calling their rhetoric about Russian President Vladimir Putin “embarrassing for the United States.”

Plitsas appeared on “The Lead” following ostensible peace negotiations in Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend, which Kushner said during a Sunday press conference in Kyiv could lead to a “win-win” for both countries — and see Putin achieve his “aspirations.”

“The sound bites that came out of Kyiv and Moscow from this trip, I’m sorry, were nothing short of embarrassing for the United States and were absolutely abhorrent,” Plitsas said. “The idea that we should give in to Vladimir Putin’s aspirations as part of this is absurd.”

The senior fellow at the Atlantic Council continued, “The man’s troops have killed hundreds of thousands across Ukraine, with documented, heinous war crimes, including raping and pillaging and hundreds of thousands dead, and his aspiration’s to take the rest of the country.”

Plitsas acknowledged that negotiating peace could require “some territorial swaps” but also noted that the language used in those efforts is “important” — and shouldn’t include Witkoff personally praising Putin for “all these incredible stories” they’ll have “when we retire.”

The billionaire real estate investor did just that during a sit-down Saturday at the Kremlin.

“And the language that was used about what fond memories they would have of negotiations in Moscow, followed by the idea that Vladimir Putin’s aspirations are valid to be taken into account, is absolutely absurd,” Plitsas told “The Lead” guest host John Berman.

Kushner told reporters Sunday that Putin has “objectives” and “aspirations for his country” that could be achieved “once this is concluded.” Plitsas told Berman, “I was actually pretty disgusted with what I heard. It’s the first time I’ve used that type of language to describe this, but this was embarrassing.”

Kushner and Witkoff made their first official visit to Ukraine on Sunday, as part of a renewed push for peace four and a half years after Russia invaded, only for Putin to resume airstrikes early Tuesday morning — killing three people and injuring at least a dozen others — after they left.

Plitsas minced no words when asked what kind of message this sends to the U.S. and President Donald Trump, who has frequently spoken highly of Putin and blamed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former President Joe Biden for Russia’s 2022 invasion.

“The message is a reflection of the fact that Putin still thinks that he can win this war and he’s told his army to double down,” Plitsas said Monday. “And that was after the CIA director visited at the request of President Trump to deliver a very stern warning to the Russians.”

He added, “But apparently it was read as a sign of weakness. And so while Putin relented and agreed to a couple of days or at least a day of ceasefire to allow the travel to take place, as you noted, that didn’t last very long — and that is a very telling sign of what comes next.”