Kurt Volker, Trump's special envoy, invited sanctioned Russian official Kirill Dmitriev to his private residence for dinner before a White House meeting, raising concerns in the White House and State Department.
While Volker had some support from Republican skeptics on Ukraine, his actions angered other Republicans who viewed the Trump administration as being too accommodating to Moscow. Criticism intensified after Volker's pro-Putin interview on Tucker Carlson.
American and European officials are worried that Volker's inexperience is being exploited by Russia. A letter from a major Republican donor, Eric Levin, demanded Volker's removal and replacement by Marco Rubio.
Democrats expressed disapproval, with Ned Price criticizing Volker and Trump for showcasing their desperation for a deal. European allies also voiced concern over a lack of a clear U.S. plan to end the war and inconsistencies in messaging from the U.S. administration.