In brief
Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has sharply criticized Sir Keir Starmer's call for an international force to back a ceasefire in Ukraine, branding it as merely a "posture and a pose," during his remarks in Kyiv.
In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, Steve Witkoff condemned Sir Keir Starmer's proposal for an international force aimed at fostering a ceasefire in Ukraine, labeling it a mere "posture and a pose." The comment underscores concerns over the UK's military leadership in Ukraine amidst ongoing tensions. Witkoff suggested the idea stems from a misguided desire among Western leaders to channel Winston Churchill's wartime resolve in the present context, stating, “Russians are going to march across Europe. That is preposterous,” due to NATO’s existence. Witkoff expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, labeling him as "super smart" and revealing that Putin had been “gracious” during a recent meeting. He also claimed Putin prayed for Trump after an assassination attempt last year and had made a portrait of Trump as a gift, highlighting perceived ties between the U.S. and Russia.While leading U.S. ceasefire negotiations, Witkoff struggled to identify the five Ukrainian regions under Russian control, a gaffe that raised eyebrows. His assertions included claims about Ukrainian troops being encircled in Kursk, which Ukraine has denied. Furthermore, he echoed discredited statements regarding referendums in occupied regions, promoting arguments commonly pushed by Russia, which has faced global criticism for its alleged annexations.Regarding Starmer's vision of a "coalition of the willing" for military security guarantees post-conflict, Witkoff dismissed the urgency of such a coalition, suggesting it oversimplifies the geopolitical intricacies. "The elephant in the room is, there are constitutional issues within Ukraine as to what they can concede to with regard to giving up territory,” he stated, insisting that areas claimed by Russia are viewed as legitimately theirs from a Russian perspective.In closing, Witkoff noted that a ceasefire in the Black Sea could be established soon, asserting progress could lead to a full ceasefire within a month. He outlined a vision for potential U.S.-Russia collaboration on various fronts should relations normalize, touching on energy and technological cooperation.
