During a recent meeting of the Peace Council, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for Steve Witkoff, a key figure in peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Trump stated that Witkoff is well-regarded by both Ukraine and Europe, as well as Russia.
Trump recounted his decision to send Witkoff as a special envoy to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. He described the initial meeting, noting that Witkoff was in discussions with Putin for an extended period. “I asked: how’s Steve doing? They said, ‘Sir, he’s still inside.’ After three or four hours, they were still together for the first meeting,” Trump said.
In addition to his rapport with Putin, Trump asserted that Witkoff also maintains a positive relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In November of the previous year, Bloomberg reported on a controversial conversation between Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Putin. During this discussion, Witkoff provided guidance to the Russian side on how to engage with the U.S. He suggested that Putin call Trump before Zelensky’s visit to the White House and proposed developing a 20-point plan similar to a deal regarding Gaza.
This has led to speculation that Trump’s initial 27-point peace plan may have been influenced by Russian proposals before being refined by Washington.
Former President Donald Trump has highlighted the role of Steve Witkoff in fostering dialogue between Ukraine and Russia. His comments come amid discussions of past negotiations and potential peace plans.
Source: RBC-Ukraine