Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated at a press conference that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has embraced the same tactics as the Russian side concerning their conflict with Ukraine.
Zelenskyy claims that Witkoff has embraced Russia’s strategic approach. This is viewed as highly perilous because Witkoff is “either consciously or subconsciously disseminating Russian propaganda.”
Zelenskyy simultaneously declared that Witkoff was not authorized to negotiate over Ukrainian territories.
“Since they are ours, they belong to the Ukrainian people—not just to us, but also to future generations of Ukrainians. We have heard such claims from Mr. Putin previously. I did not believe he still had supporters disseminating these stories abroad. Therefore, I do not consider this seriously,” stated the president.
Witkoff’s statements
Last week, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia, meeting with Russian investment representative Kirill Dmitriev before engaging in approximately five hours of discussions with President Vladimir Putin.
In light of these developments, Reuters has stated that Witkoff thinks the quickest route to peace in Ukraine might be for Russia to take control of the four eastern Ukrainian territories. It is said he shared this viewpoint with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Subsequently, The Wall Street Journal indicated potential divisions within Trump’s team. Several advisors pressed for more restraint concerning Moscow’s declarations about a potential ceasefire. Nonetheless, as per the reports, Trump “remains aligned with envoy Steve Witkoff.”
Not long ago, Witkacy mentioned that the solution to stopping the conflict in Ukraine hinges on what he referred to as the “five territories.”
“The peace accord addresses what’s referred to as the five regions; however, it encompasses much more than that. It includes security measures, provisions related to Article 5 of NATO, and numerous other specifics. The circumstances are complex, stemming from genuine issues occurring between these nations,” he stated.
