Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has criticized UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s plan for an international peacekeeping force in Ukraine, calling it a “simplistic” attempt to emulate Winston Churchill.
Witkoff made the comments during an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, where he also praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “super smart” and “gracious.”
Witkoff, who is leading US peace negotiations with Ukraine and Russia, claimed that Putin had prayed for Trump after the assassination attempt against him last year and even commissioned a portrait of the former US president as a gift. He described Ukraine as a “false country” and questioned when the world would recognize occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian.
The envoy argued that the root cause of the conflict lies in Russia’s belief that regions like Donbas, Crimea, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson rightfully belong to them. He also made controversial claims about Ukrainian troops being surrounded in Kursk and referenced disputed referendums in occupied areas, which have been widely discredited.
Witkoff’s remarks come as the US prepares to hold separate discussions with Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia about a potential ceasefire. His comments have sparked criticism, particularly his praise for Putin and his dismissal of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
What do you think about Witkoff’s comments and his approach to the Ukraine conflict? Should the US and its allies take a tougher stance against Russia, or is diplomacy the best path forward? Let us know in the comments. Don’t forget to like and follow for more updates on this developing story.
Diplomacy