Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has rejected Sir Keir Starmer’s plan for an international force to support a ceasefire in Ukraine, calling it “a posture and a pose.” Speaking with pro-Trump journalist Tucker Carlson, Witkoff criticized the idea as overly simplistic, accusing Starmer and other European leaders of attempting to emulate Winston Churchill.
During the interview, Witkoff spoke favorably of Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing him as "super smart" and "not a bad guy." He recounted a recent meeting with Putin, during which the Russian leader allegedly expressed sympathy for Trump following an assassination attempt and even commissioned a portrait of the former U.S. president as a gift.
Echoing Russian narratives, Witkoff questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty, referring to it as “a false country” and raising doubts about the global community’s refusal to recognize occupied Ukrainian territories as part of Russia. Despite leading U.S. negotiations on a ceasefire, he struggled to name all five Ukrainian regions annexed or partially occupied by Russia, vaguely mentioning “Donbas, Crimea, and two others.”
The U.S. is set to host ceasefire talks with Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, but tensions remain high. Overnight, Russian drone strikes on Kyiv claimed the lives of three civilians, including a five-year-old child, while another attack on Zaporizhzhia killed a family of three. In response, Russia’s defense ministry reported shooting down 59 Ukrainian drones in Crimea and southern regions.
When pressed on Starmer’s proposal for a “coalition of the willing” to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, Witkoff dismissed it as both naïve and unnecessary, insisting that NATO already serves as a deterrent against Russian expansion. He also predicted that a ceasefire in the Black Sea would take effect within a week, with a broader 30-day ceasefire potentially on the horizon.
Looking ahead, Witkoff outlined Trump’s vision for U.S.-Russia cooperation post-conflict, suggesting possible collaboration on Arctic energy policies, AI development, and shared maritime trade routes.