Among the US officials expected to leave today for a potential second round of peace talks in Pakistan is Steve Witkoff, a US special envoy and decades-long friend of President Donald Trump, writes CNN.

Witkoff helped negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza and has also attempted to achieve an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, sitting down with Russian President Vladimir Putin on multiple occasions, without success.

Witkoff sees the US president almost daily, texts with Trump’s family members, has walk-in privileges to the Oval Office, and enjoys a longer leash than nearly anyone else in the Trump administration, sources told CNN last year.

The special envoy takes no salary from the US government and pays for travel on his personal plane without reimbursement from the federal government, according to an administration official. A Middle Eastern official who has worked with Witkoff praised him as a “smart negotiator” and said his go-it-alone approach can result in “efficient and effective execution of deals”.

Donald Trump Jr., who has become close personal friends with Witkoff and a key advocate of his role in his father’s administration, was effusive in his praise for Witkoff when talking to CNN last year.

“No one is better suited to lead peace negotiations in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine than he is. His ability to cut deals and succeed in tough negotiations is second to none and America will be better off because of his hard work”, - said Trump Jr.