Rustem Umerov, a top negotiator for Volodymyr Zelensky, held secret meetings with FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff in the U.S., sparking concerns among Western officials about ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations.These clandestine discussions, occurring amid a U.S. pressure campaign, are speculated to involve Umerov seeking amnesty or the U.S. pushing for significant Ukrainian concessions, though the
White House downplayed their significance.