Trump Envoy Steve Witkoff Rejects Starmer’s Ukraine Ceasefire Proposal While Praising Putin

Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, dismissed Sir Keir Starmer’s proposal for an international force to support a ceasefire in Ukraine, labeling it as “a posture and a pose.” In an interview with pro-Trump journalist Tucker Carlson, Witkoff criticized the notion that leaders like the UK Prime Minister should emulate Winston Churchill in the current geopolitical climate, calling it overly simplistic.

Witkoff expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, “I don’t regard Putin as a bad guy,” and remarked that he finds him “super smart.” Having met with Putin just ten days prior, Witkoff described the Russian leader as “gracious” and claimed that Putin expressed concern for Trump following an assassination attempt last year, even commissioning a portrait of the former president as a gesture of goodwill.

During the interview, Witkoff echoed several Russian narratives, suggesting that Ukraine is a “false country” and questioning when the international community would recognize territories occupied by Russia as part of its domain. Despite leading ceasefire negotiations with both Russia and Ukraine, Witkoff struggled to identify the five regions currently annexed or partially occupied by Russian forces, referring only to “the so-called four regions” and mixing up their names.

The five regions in question are Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea. Witkoff’s assertions included unverified claims about Ukrainian troops being surrounded in Kursk, which Ukraine officials have denied, as well as statements regarding referendums in occupied territories that have been widely discredited.

Witkoff reiterated several Kremlin talking points regarding Russia’s invasion, asserting that from a Russian perspective, the occupied territories are now considered part of Russia. He emphasized constitutional issues within Ukraine that complicate territorial concessions, stating, “The Russians are de facto in control of these territories.”

He remarked on the perception in Russia that Ukraine is merely a “false country” and suggested that this belief is central to the conflict, claiming Russia views the five regions as rightfully theirs since World War II. Witkoff questioned the rationale behind Russia wanting to absorb Ukraine, arguing that they have already achieved their objectives by reclaiming these regions.

When discussing Starmer’s plan to create a “coalition of the willing” for military security guarantees in a post-war Ukraine, Witkoff characterized it as simplistic and reminiscent of historical wartime posturing. He reassured viewers that a ceasefire in the Black Sea is imminent, stating, “We are not far away from a full 30-day ceasefire.”

Witkoff also outlined Trump’s vision for future U.S.-Russia relations, suggesting collaboration on energy policies in the Arctic and other areas of mutual interest, emphasizing the potential for a cooperative relationship between the two nations.