Donald Trump’s special envoy has criticised Sir Keir Starmer‘s proposal for an international force to aid a ceasefire in Ukraine, labelling it as “a posture and a pose.”
Steve Witkoff expressed that the concept stemmed from a “simplistic” perspective, suggesting that the UK prime minister and other European leaders believe “we all have to emulate Winston Churchill.”
During a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, a journalist known for his pro-Trump stance, Witkoff admired Vladimir Putin, stating that he “liked” the Russian president.
“I don’t see Putin as a villain,” he stated. “He possesses exceptional intelligence.”
Witkoff, who had an audience with Putin just 10 days prior, described the Russian president as having been both “gracious” and “straight up” during their meeting. According to him, Putin expressed that he had prayed for Trump following an assassination attempt on the latter last year. He stated that Putin had commissioned a portrait of the US president as a gift, noting that Trump was “clearly touched by it.”
In a recent interview, Witkoff reiterated several points commonly made by Russian officials, asserting that Ukraine is “a false country” and questioning when the international community would acknowledge the annexed Ukrainian territories as part of Russia.
Witkoff is at the forefront of the US ceasefire negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine; however, he could not identify the five regions of Ukraine that have been either annexed or partially occupied by Russian forces.
He stated, “The primary concern in that conflict revolves around these so-called four regions: Donbas, Crimea, and two well-known regions.”
The five regions, known as oblasts, include Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea. The Donbas is an industrial area in the eastern part of Ukraine, encompassing significant portions of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
Witkoff has put forth several claims that are either inaccurate or contested.
- Claims have emerged that Ukrainian troops in Kursk are encircled, a statement that has been refuted by the Ukrainian government and lacks verification from any open-source information.
- The official stated that Ukraine’s four partially occupied regions conducted “referendums in which the overwhelming majority of the populace expressed a desire to be governed by Russian authority.” Referendums were conducted in select occupied areas of Ukraine at various intervals, yet the methodology employed and the outcomes reported have faced significant criticism and scepticism.
- According to his statement, the four partially occupied oblasts were described as Russian-speaking. Despite the presence of numerous Russian-speaking regions in Ukraine, this demographic reality has not been interpreted as an endorsement of Russian influence or support.
The United States is preparing to hold separate discussions in Saudi Arabia with representatives from Ukraine and Russia regarding a potential ceasefire during meetings scheduled for Sunday and Monday.
In a recent development, Ukrainian officials reported that Russia conducted drone strikes on Kyiv during the night, leading to the tragic deaths of three individuals, among them a five-year-old child.
Authorities reported that eight individuals sustained injuries.
On Friday, Russian forces targeted the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, resulting in the tragic deaths of a family of three.
On Sunday, Russia’s Ministry of Defence reported the interception of 59 Ukrainian drones across various southern regions, including Crimea, which has been under Russian control since its annexation in 2014.
During the interview, Witkoff reiterated multiple points commonly associated with Kremlin narratives regarding the motivations behind Russia’s extensive invasion.
He stated that it was “correct” to view the partially occupied territories as part of Russia from the Russian perspective. He added, “The elephant in the room is that there are constitutional issues within Ukraine regarding what they can concede in the territory.” Currently, the Russians hold effective control over these regions. The pressing inquiry remains: will the global community recognise these regions as Russian territories?
He stated, “There exists a perception in Russia that Ukraine is merely a fabricated entity, a mosaic of regions stitched together. In my view, this belief is the fundamental cause of the ongoing conflict, as Russia considers those five regions rightfully theirs since World War Two. This topic remains largely unaddressed.”
President Putin has consistently articulated that the “root causes” of his invasion stem from the perceived threat to Russia posed by an expanded NATO and the mere existence of Ukraine as an independent nation.
In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, Witkoff asked, “Why would they want to absorb Ukraine?” What is the intended purpose? There is no necessity for them to incorporate Ukraine. Their efforts have led to the reclamation of five regions. With Crimea now under their control, they have achieved their objectives. What is the rationale behind their demand for additional resources?
In response to enquiries regarding Keir Starmer’s intentions to establish a “coalition of the willing” aimed at delivering military security assurances for a post-war Ukraine, Witkoff remarked: “I believe it reflects a mix of posture and pose, as well as a degree of simplification.” A prevailing notion suggests that we are all expected to embody the qualities of Winston Churchill, the British wartime prime minister. Reports indicate that Russian forces are preparing to advance across Europe. That assertion is utterly absurd, to say the least. Nato is an alliance that was not present during World War II.
A ceasefire in the Black Sea is expected to be “implemented over the next week or so,” with officials stating that “we are not far away” from achieving a complete 30-day ceasefire.
He provided insights into Trump’s desire to collaborate with Russia following the normalisation of relations. “The prospect of a world where Russia and the United States engage in collaborative efforts raises intriguing possibilities. Envisioning a partnership that integrates energy policies in the Arctic, shares maritime routes, and jointly exports LNG to Europe, as well as exploring collaboration in artificial intelligence, presents a hopeful narrative for international relations.”
