U.S. particular envoy to the Center East, Steve Witkoff, who not too long ago emerged as a number one determine in negotiations concerning Russia and Ukraine, revealed insights into ongoing ceasefire talks between Moscow and Washington.
In an interview on March 21 with American far-right political commentator Tucker Carlson, Witkoff overtly parroted Russian propaganda and agreed with a lot of the Kremlin's speaking factors, additional casting doubt on whether or not Ukraine can count on to achieve a ceasefire on its phrases.
"I believe the most important subject in that battle are these so-called 4 areas, Donbas, Crimea … and there's two others," Witkoff mentioned, apparently referring to partially Russian-occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia oblasts, and Crimea, absolutely occupied by Russia since 2014.
"They’re Russian-speaking, and there have been referendums the place the overwhelming majority of the individuals have indicated that they need to be beneath Russian rule," Witkoff added in English, omitting the circumstances surrounding Russia's sham referendums "at gunpoint" in occupied Ukraine.
Following the beginning of Russia's all-out struggle, Moscow occupied elements of Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts in 2022 by killing hundreds of individuals and destroying cities and cities.
The identical occurred in Ukraine's east, the place Russia additional superior in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, a portion of which it held since 2014.
In September 2022, Russia annexed the 4 Ukrainian oblasts following sham referendums at gunpoint rejected by the worldwide neighborhood as null and void. In movies revealed on-line, the vote was secured by the Russian navy and beneath duress.
Within the occupied areas, Russian forces systemically terrorized Ukrainian civilians with abductions and killings, committing struggle crimes reminiscent of rape and torture. Russia continues to constantly erase individuals's Ukrainian id and prosecutes opponents of enforced Russification whereas additionally forcibly conscripting males to combat within the Russian military.
Ukraine continues to regulate regional capitals Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, with the later being liberated in November 2022. Following the liberation of the regional capital, hundreds of individuals took to the streets in celebration, whereas hundreds of others who have been compelled to depart have been in a position to return house.
The Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov
On the liberated territories, various Russian torture chambers have been discovered.
Equating Ukrainian Russian audio system to Russians who help the struggle and utilizing language as a solution to justify its struggle towards Ukraine is a standard theme of Russian propaganda.
In keeping with Witkoff, the issue round Russian-occupied oblasts is the Ukrainian administration's resistance to political fallout in case "the world (would) acknowledge that these are Russian territories."
"Can (President Volodymyr) Zelensky survive politically if he acknowledges this? That is the central subject within the battle," Witkoff mentioned.
The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko
Witkoff additionally claimed that Ukraine will maintain presidential elections. His assertion got here after Carlson echoed a Russian narrative, saying that Moscow considers Zelensky "not elected" and, due to this fact, "can't signal any form of treaty."
Witkoff alleged that Ukrainian management had "largely conceded that they aren’t going to be a member of NATO" however added the dialogue is open on whether or not Ukraine might have a level of NATO-member safety from the U.S. and European nations.
Witkoff added that Russia "100%" doesn't need to wage a struggle in Europe or "take up Ukraine" absolutely.
"(Russia's) reclaimed these 5 areas. They’ve Crimea, and so they've gotten what they need. So why do they want extra?" Witkoff added, not mentioning that Russia had made related claims of not invading Ukraine previous to its full-scale invasion.
Witkoff empathized that Trump is concentrated on reviving their relationship with Putin over the course of peace talks.
"Who doesn't need to have a world the place Russia and the United States are doing collaboratively good issues collectively?" he mentioned, mentioning the prospect of doing enterprise as standard with Russia with "power insurance policies within the Arctic," promoting pure gasoline to Europe and collaborating on AI.
"That could be a difficult scenario, together with struggle and all of the components that led as much as it. It's by no means only one individual," Witkoff added.
Witkoff downplayed Russian President Vladimir Putin's function within the full-scale invasion.
On the subject of a partial ceasefire that will halt strikes towards infrastructure and moratorium on maritime hits within the Black Sea, Witkoff claimed that they’re "going to be applied within the subsequent week or so."
Witkoff additionally mentioned that Putin claimed to have prayed for "his good friend" Trump in an area church after an try on Trump's life in July 2024 and gave Witkoff a commissioned portrait of Trump as a present for the U.S. president.
"That is the form of connection that we've been in a position to reestablish (with Russia) by way of a easy phrase referred to as communication, which many individuals would say I shouldn't have had as a result of Putin is a nasty man. I don't regard Putin as a nasty man," Witkoff added.
"This is perhaps the stupidest factor I've ever seen," right-wing commentator Richard Hanania posted on X (Twitter) together with this phase of the interview.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova