According to “WSJ” In the text-like after five Ukrainian circuits occupied by Russia (Doniecki, Lugansk, Cherson, Zaporoski and Crimea)they are to be in the center of peace negotiations. Witkoff, who grew up to the leading figure of negotiations, said “WSJ” that “Putin is fixed on the point of Ukrainian land“In their discussions. He added that Russia”maybe get some of the regions, but not all of them“.
He suggested that Ukraine may be less dependent on the circumferences in which Russian prevails.
“When you start looking at these five regions, Russia you care about, and by the way, Ukraine, you also care about them; If some of them are more Russian -speaking, do you care less about them? ” – said Witkoff, quoted by the daily.
“WSJ” notes that as a result of the Russian assault, the use of Russian has fallen throughout the country, while Ukraine and President Wołodymyr Zelnski – for whom Russian was the first language – strongly deny, they strongly deny, so that they can ever recognize the Russian annexation of the circuits.
The daily reminds that Wiktoff for the first time raised the issue of the future of the regions after talks with Putin in March, in an interview with the pro -Russian journalist Tucker Carlson. At that time, he said that Russia controls all of them (in fact, he was completely occupied by Crimea and the Lugans' region), confused their number and names. He also suggested that Russian claims are justified, Pointing to fictitious referendums organized by the occupation authorities.
The President of Ukraine Wołodymyr Zelnski pointed out to the reproduction of pro -Russian narratives by Witkoff, who stated that this was not “helpful”. According to CNN, which refers to the representatives of the Trump administration, Witkoff duplicates Russian narratives also at meetings behind the closed door in the White House, what he has “certainly cause some discomfort in the room“.
“Witkoff seems very susceptible to some Russian narratives and this is a real problem” – CNN said one of the officials.
