Steve Witkoff messes up, big time
U.S. real estate tycoon Steve Witkoff, appointed by Trump as a special envoy, sparked confusion with Russian President Putin over Ukraine territorial talks, exposing his inexperience and straining relations with European allies.
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Steve Witkoff, a U.S. real estate tycoon unexpectedly appointed as a special envoy by President Donald Trump, has found himself at the center of a diplomatic storm following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, according to a Reuters report. Witkoff’s lack of diplomatic experience led to a critical error during the talks, causing confusion in the White House and among European allies, and raising questions about his suitability for high-stakes negotiations.
Witkoff, a close Trump ally, reported to the president that Putin was willing to make significant territorial concessions in Ukraine, sparking optimism and prompting Trump to announce a planned summit with the Russian leader. However, the following day, it became clear that Witkoff’s account was far removed from reality. In a call with European leaders, Witkoff claimed Putin was ready to withdraw from Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in exchange for Ukraine ceding Donetsk and Luhansk. This assertion stunned allies, as it contradicted intelligence assessments of the Kremlin’s position.
Witkoff later backtracked, clarifying that Putin had not offered to return any territories but might consider symbolic gestures, such as not demanding formal recognition of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as Russian. The mix-up exposed Witkoff’s inexperience and the absence of formal State Department oversight during his Moscow visit, leaving Washington without reliable documentation of the talks. U.S. and European officials warned that the discrepancies served Moscow’s interests, with some suggesting Putin exploited Witkoff’s naivety at the negotiating table.
Senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg, expressed frustration over the contradictory messages at a time when the U.S. is adopting a tougher stance toward Russia. European allies, forced to spend days clarifying what was promised, voiced concerns that Witkoff’s misstep undermined diplomatic efforts. The error shifted focus to the contentious issue of territorial concessions, with Trump initially eyeing a land-swap deal, only to learn Putin had no intention of relinquishing control over Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, or Kherson.
A subsequent summit in Alaska on August 15 yielded no progress, with the Ukraine war continuing unabated. U.S. officials privately admit that deploying an inexperienced envoy like Witkoff complicated efforts and projected American disarray. Critics argue the move cast doubt on the Kremlin’s seriousness about returning territories seized since 2014. While Witkoff’s circle defends his loyalty to Trump, behind-the-scenes voices call the incident an avoidable diplomatic fiasco.