“Witkoff does not know what he is talking about.” Trump's special envoy may not understand Putin. New reports
According to “Bild”, the Kremlin did not withdraw from its maximum demands before the peace peak in Alaska, which is to take place on August 15. It is about complete control over the four circuits of Ukraine: Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporoskie, Chersonian and Crimea.
Meanwhile, Russia allegedly proposed only a “sectoral suspension of weapons” – for example, mutual resignation from attacks on energy objects or larger cities behind the front line.
“Witkoff does not know what he is talking about”
According to “Bild” there was a misunderstanding in terms of the peace peak, during which Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are to talk to each other. On Thursday, August 7, it seemed that Trump's negotiator Steve Witkoff achieved progress during a meeting with Putin.
Putin, however, does not want to suspend the Russian offensive along the front line, despite the fact that the United States proposed in return to abolish most sanctions against Russia and the conclusion of new economic agreements.
Trump even proposed a “exchange of territories”, which predicts that Russia in exchange for giving up further conquests can “keep” part of the occupied Donbass (which the President of Ukraine categorically rejected).
“Witkoff does not know what he is talking about,” said the Ukrainian government official in an interview with “Bild”. According to Bild, this opinion is also shared by representatives of the German government.
On Thursday evening, August 8, a teleconference was held between representatives of the US government – in this special envoy Witkoff, secretary of State Marco Rubio and vice president JD Vance and European partners. As “Bild” found out, the American side was picked up as chaotic and divided.
This was mainly caused by Witkoff's attitude, whose statements about Wednesday's conversation with Putin in the Kremlin were received as misleading. Witkoff himself gave Europeans the impression of overwhelmed and not very competent when he spoke about territorial issues related to Ukraine.
Apparently there was also a disagreement between Witkoff and Rubio as to further proceedings, because the Secretary of State emphasized that Europeans should be involved in a peaceful process, while Vance and Witkoff just wanted to inform Europe about the results of further activities of Trump.
