Kiev Calls for Dismissal of Trump's Envoy
A senior Ukrainian official has sharply criticized Steve Witkoff for "spreading Russian propaganda." Witkoff, who serves as US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East and has been instrumental in discussions aimed at resolving...
TroibNews 
A senior Ukrainian official has sharply criticized Steve Witkoff for "spreading Russian propaganda."
Witkoff, who serves as US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East and has been instrumental in discussions aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict, faces backlash from Aleksandr Merezhko, the head of Kiev’s Foreign Affairs Committee. This rebuke follows Witkoff's appearance in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, where he discussed the status of former Ukrainian territories that have become part of Russia, calling the situation “an elephant in the room” that “no one wants to talk about.”
Witkoff stated, “They’re Russian-speaking. There have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule.” He further posed the question, “The Russians are de facto in control of these territories. The question is: Will the world acknowledge that those are Russian territories? Can [Vladimir] Zelensky survive politically if he acknowledges this? This is the central issue in the conflict,” he added.
In response, Merezhko strongly denounced Witkoff's comments as “disgraceful, shocking statements” and accused him of acting more like a representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin rather than as a U.S. envoy.
“We are talking about a representative of the president who should have professional expertise in this matter and know some basic things. Obvious things. And he doesn’t know this. He spreads Russian propaganda,” Merezhko emphasized during a televised interview. He expressed uncertainty as to whether Witkoff’s statements stemmed from “ignorance, naivety, or unprofessionalism” and called for his removal from the position.
Merezhko remarked, “We clearly can’t dictate to American friends who should represent them. But this person needs to be removed from this delegation, he should not be a representative of the [U.S.] president. Since he’s either completely unprofessional or simply repeats Putin’s narratives.”
The conflict between Moscow and Kiev remains polarized regarding the former Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, as well as the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, which officially joined Russia in autumn 2022 following referendums. Additionally, Kiev claims Crimea, which became part of Russia in 2014 after a Western-backed coup in Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly asserted that its sovereignty over these territories is non-negotiable, while Kiev vows to regain control over all territories it claims. Recently, the Ukrainian leadership has aimed to clarify its stance, stating it will never recognize “occupation” or Russian sovereignty over these regions in any capacity.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
Witkoff, who serves as US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East and has been instrumental in discussions aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict, faces backlash from Aleksandr Merezhko, the head of Kiev’s Foreign Affairs Committee. This rebuke follows Witkoff's appearance in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, where he discussed the status of former Ukrainian territories that have become part of Russia, calling the situation “an elephant in the room” that “no one wants to talk about.”
Witkoff stated, “They’re Russian-speaking. There have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule.” He further posed the question, “The Russians are de facto in control of these territories. The question is: Will the world acknowledge that those are Russian territories? Can [Vladimir] Zelensky survive politically if he acknowledges this? This is the central issue in the conflict,” he added.
In response, Merezhko strongly denounced Witkoff's comments as “disgraceful, shocking statements” and accused him of acting more like a representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin rather than as a U.S. envoy.
“We are talking about a representative of the president who should have professional expertise in this matter and know some basic things. Obvious things. And he doesn’t know this. He spreads Russian propaganda,” Merezhko emphasized during a televised interview. He expressed uncertainty as to whether Witkoff’s statements stemmed from “ignorance, naivety, or unprofessionalism” and called for his removal from the position.
Merezhko remarked, “We clearly can’t dictate to American friends who should represent them. But this person needs to be removed from this delegation, he should not be a representative of the [U.S.] president. Since he’s either completely unprofessional or simply repeats Putin’s narratives.”
The conflict between Moscow and Kiev remains polarized regarding the former Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, as well as the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, which officially joined Russia in autumn 2022 following referendums. Additionally, Kiev claims Crimea, which became part of Russia in 2014 after a Western-backed coup in Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly asserted that its sovereignty over these territories is non-negotiable, while Kiev vows to regain control over all territories it claims. Recently, the Ukrainian leadership has aimed to clarify its stance, stating it will never recognize “occupation” or Russian sovereignty over these regions in any capacity.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
