More on the subject of corruption in the Trump administration. Diane Francis–veteran journalist who writes about power, money, tech, and corruption– has more details about business dealings between Putin and the Kushner-Witkoff team sent to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine. Kushner and Witkoff left the meeting wreathed in smiles, saying it was a meeting they would always remember. Did they get a peace freak? They had more on their minds than Ukraine.
From Moscow’s oil interests and Albania’s contested coastline to Russian money reaching the president’s family, a troubling pattern raises new questions about private wealth and American diplomacy.
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
— James Madison, Federalist No. 51, 1788
Dear Friends,
On March 24, 2026, I published Part I of “The Reckoning of Jared Kushner,” examining how proximity to the presidency, foreign capital, and political influence had become intertwined with his private financial interests. Since then, new information has emerged regarding potential corruption, conflicts of interest, and apparent grift tied to Kushner’s international dealings. The developments in Albania, Russia, and the Middle East are too consequential to ignore. I felt it was important to return to this investigation, follow the new evidence, and examine what it reveals about the ongoing erosion of constitutional accountability. Hope you find this information useful and enlightening.
The Kremlin’s imposing walls, gilded ceilings, and centuries of Russian history offer visitors a powerful reminder of who holds power. Decisions made within its rooms have shaped the course of nations, and American diplomats have entered them knowing that every agreement can reach far beyond the negotiating table. Diplomacy, ambition, and economic power have long been closely intertwined there.
With that said, earlier this month, on September 5th, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin as Russia’s war against Ukraine continued to devastate cities and kill innocent civilians. Their mission was reportedly to pursue a negotiated settlement, but according to subsequent reporting, Putin raised another topic: a proposed multibillion-dollar acquisition of Lukoil’s international assets, one of Russia’s largest oil companies.
The prospective investors reportedly include American billionaire Todd Boehly and Middle Eastern business interests linked to the U.S. negotiators’ families. Among those interests are Qatari businessmen associated with Kushner and Ivanka Trump’s luxury development in Albania. The proposed transaction remains incomplete, and there’s no evidence that Kushner personally stands to profit from it. Nevertheless, the overlap between private business relationships and U.S. diplomatic authority raises questions that cannot be dismissed as ordinary political criticism.
When the story became public, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev defended Kushner as a peacemaker. Moscow’s endorsement doesn’t prove wrongdoing, but the circumstances are extraordinary… An official from Vladimir Putin’s government is defending the American president’s son-in-law as a peacemaker, even as a potentially lucrative transaction involving Russian assets and his family’s business associates is discussed alongside sensitive diplomatic negotiations.
To understand why this matters, we must look beyond Moscow. The financial relationships surrounding Kushner span from the Persian Gulf to southeastern Europe, where government records reveal how complex the intersection of family wealth and public authority has become.
Along Albania’s Adriatic coastline lies Sazan Island, a former military installation set amid striking Mediterranean landscapes. Nearby, the Vjosa-Narta lagoon is an important refuge for flamingos and other migratory birds. These are among the locations where Jared and Ivanka have pursued ambitious luxury developments, promising substantial foreign investment and transforming Albania into an exclusive tourism destination.
On December 30, 2024, Albania’s Strategic Investment Committee granted Atlantic Incubation Partners strategic-investor status for a proposed resort on Sazan Island. Government records valued the investment at about €1.4 billion and indicated it would cover roughly 45 hectares (~111 acres) of the island. Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government has promoted the project as a means to attract international capital, expand Albania’s tourism industry, and create local jobs.
Ivanka Trump has taken a keen interest in the family’s Albanian investments, visiting the country and meeting with government officials. Yet broader development ambitions near Zvërnec have faced significant opposition over environmental protection, public access, and the ownership of valuable coastal property. The months-long protests, known as the Flamingo Revolution, reflect growing concerns that Albania’s natural heritage is being sacrificed to accommodate wealthy foreign investors.
The government’s own records warrant closer examination. An official investment agency document published in 2026 acknowledged that the Sazan project’s original action plan faced technical, procedural, and legal complications. It also recorded ten negotiation meetings between the developer and Albanian state-linked entities. The agency has acknowledged that portions of the project’s ownership and investment documentation are confidential.
Separate allegations regarding land tied to the family’s broader development plans have drawn additional scrutiny. Albanian prosecutors have reportedly investigated businessman Artur Shehu for suspected money laundering and for disputed property arrangements. Shehu denies wrongdoing, and no evidence has shown that Jared or Ivanka engaged in criminal activity. Nonetheless, the controversy underscores the need for independent ownership verification, transparent commercial agreements, and meaningful environmental safeguards.
The international partnerships behind the Albanian development also merit a closer look. For example, Qatari businessmen Moutaz and Ramez Al-Khayyat have been identified as partners in the venture, and reports about the proposed acquisition of Lukoil’s international assets have also highlighted their wider business network.
That connection brings us back to Moscow, where the sale of Russian energy interests has implications that extend far beyond commercial investment. The United States Treasury sanctioned Lukoil in October 2025 as part of an effort to restrict Russia’s ability to finance the war in Ukraine… The company subsequently announced plans to sell its international operations.
Just last month, on September 18th, Treasury issued General License 131J, allowing negotiations, due diligence, and contingent contracts involving Lukoil’s international assets through October 22nd. Any actual transfer still requires separate authorization. Treasury’s conditions ensure that an approved transaction cuts the acquired businesses’ ties to Lukoil, prevents funds from flowing to Russia, and avoids giving the sanctioned company an immediate financial windfall.
These requirements reflect Washington’s recognition of the national security risks involved in allowing Russian assets to change hands. They also underscore why the American public deserves clear, straightforward answers about how prospective investors are selected, what role U.S. government institutions may play, and whether private relationships could influence decisions about sanctions and Ukraine’s future.
No verified evidence shows that Kushner manipulated the proposed transaction for personal gain. Yet the absence of proven misconduct doesn’t relieve our government of its responsibility to prevent conflicts of interest before they influence public decisions. Economic cooperation can sometimes advance legitimate diplomatic objectives, but it cannot justify allowing politically connected investors to shape our nation’s negotiating position when their financial interests remain insufficiently disclosed.
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