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US President Donald Trump is considering expanding the remit of the newly created “Board of Peace”, originally established to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, to other conflict zones around the world, including Ukraine, the Financial Times reported.
The board’s executive committee, announced by the US government on Friday, includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
According to a person briefed on its likely mandate and cited by the FT, the Trump administration views the body as “a potential substitute for the UN” — a parallel, unofficial mechanism to address global conflicts beyond Gaza.
Trump himself has praised the initiative, calling it unprecedented in stature.
“I can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday.
Earlier this week, Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Washington was weighing an expansion of the board’s role to cover other international conflicts — including the Russia–Ukraine war and tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia — depending on its performance in Gaza.
A senior Ukrainian official involved in discussions with the Trump administration told the FT that Kyiv views the board as a potentially important component of negotiations with Russia aimed at ending the war.
“Currently, it is suggested that this particular board will be established particularly for the Ukraine–Russia case,” the official said, adding that it could be used to monitor the implementation of a proposed 20-point peace framework under discussion by Washington, Kyiv, Moscow and Brussels.
Diplomats cited by the FT said US officials have also floated the idea of extending the board’s remit to Venezuela, where the political situation remains uncertain following the US seizure of former president Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
Responding to questions about the initiative, the White House told the FT: “The entire world wants to be part of President Trump’s historic effort to deliver peace to the Middle East.”
It added that any announcements regarding the Board of Peace’s membership would come directly from the president.
The board’s executive committee, announced by the US government on Friday, includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
According to a person briefed on its likely mandate and cited by the FT, the Trump administration views the body as “a potential substitute for the UN” — a parallel, unofficial mechanism to address global conflicts beyond Gaza.
Trump hails ‘prestigious’ new body
Trump himself has praised the initiative, calling it unprecedented in stature.
“I can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday.
Expansion linked to Gaza performance
Earlier this week, Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Washington was weighing an expansion of the board’s role to cover other international conflicts — including the Russia–Ukraine war and tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia — depending on its performance in Gaza.
Ukraine seen as key test case
A senior Ukrainian official involved in discussions with the Trump administration told the FT that Kyiv views the board as a potentially important component of negotiations with Russia aimed at ending the war.
“Currently, it is suggested that this particular board will be established particularly for the Ukraine–Russia case,” the official said, adding that it could be used to monitor the implementation of a proposed 20-point peace framework under discussion by Washington, Kyiv, Moscow and Brussels.
Venezuela also under consideration
Diplomats cited by the FT said US officials have also floated the idea of extending the board’s remit to Venezuela, where the political situation remains uncertain following the US seizure of former president Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
White House response
Responding to questions about the initiative, the White House told the FT: “The entire world wants to be part of President Trump’s historic effort to deliver peace to the Middle East.”
It added that any announcements regarding the Board of Peace’s membership would come directly from the president.
