Trump adviser claims Ukraine conflict was ‘provoked’
According to Steve Witkoff, the Ukraine conflict was not initiated by Russia; rather, Moscow's actions were a response to the perceived threat of Kiev's potential NATO membership. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Steve Witkoff, a senior adviser to former US President Donald Trump, stated that the Ukraine conflict was “provoked” and emphasized that it is incorrect to place full blame on Russia. He explained that Moscow felt compelled to react to a security threat arising from the West’s commitments to include Ukraine in NATO.
In an interview with CNN released on Tuesday, Witkoff addressed whether the US was making the right choice by engaging in talks with Moscow rather than continuing to send aid to Kiev. He pointed out that the situation is not simply a matter of good versus evil, stating, "the Russians are not necessarily 'the bad guys.'"
He elaborated, “The war didn’t need to happen, it was provoked. It doesn’t necessarily mean it was provoked by the Russians.” Witkoff noted that there had been various discussions regarding Ukraine's potential NATO membership before the onset of the conflict, which Moscow perceived as a significant threat to its security and a trigger for its response.
Witkoff also highlighted Russia's willingness to swiftly resolve the conflict through negotiations, recalling the talks that occurred in Istanbul in the spring of 2022, shortly after Moscow started its military operations. He mentioned that the peace process was abruptly halted in May 2022, when Kiev chose to withdraw from discussions following encouragement from then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to continue resisting.
According to Witkoff, Russian officials “have indicated that they are responsive” to concluding the conflict by participating in “cogent and substantive negotiations” in Istanbul and that the two parties “came very, very close to signing something.”
The negotiations facilitated by Türkiye resulted in a preliminary treaty agreement that would have established Ukraine as a neutral state with limited military capabilities, supported by security assurances from major global powers, including Russia. Witkoff suggested that this initial agreement could serve as a framework and “guidepost” for a future peace settlement.
Recently, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky characterized the Istanbul discussions as “an important reference point and the platform where the parties came closest to an agreement,” while praising Türkiye as an “ideal host” for prospective negotiations involving Kiev, Moscow, and Washington. Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently referred to the Istanbul agreements as a potential foundation for any future peace settlement with Ukraine.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
In an interview with CNN released on Tuesday, Witkoff addressed whether the US was making the right choice by engaging in talks with Moscow rather than continuing to send aid to Kiev. He pointed out that the situation is not simply a matter of good versus evil, stating, "the Russians are not necessarily 'the bad guys.'"
He elaborated, “The war didn’t need to happen, it was provoked. It doesn’t necessarily mean it was provoked by the Russians.” Witkoff noted that there had been various discussions regarding Ukraine's potential NATO membership before the onset of the conflict, which Moscow perceived as a significant threat to its security and a trigger for its response.
Witkoff also highlighted Russia's willingness to swiftly resolve the conflict through negotiations, recalling the talks that occurred in Istanbul in the spring of 2022, shortly after Moscow started its military operations. He mentioned that the peace process was abruptly halted in May 2022, when Kiev chose to withdraw from discussions following encouragement from then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to continue resisting.
According to Witkoff, Russian officials “have indicated that they are responsive” to concluding the conflict by participating in “cogent and substantive negotiations” in Istanbul and that the two parties “came very, very close to signing something.”
The negotiations facilitated by Türkiye resulted in a preliminary treaty agreement that would have established Ukraine as a neutral state with limited military capabilities, supported by security assurances from major global powers, including Russia. Witkoff suggested that this initial agreement could serve as a framework and “guidepost” for a future peace settlement.
Recently, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky characterized the Istanbul discussions as “an important reference point and the platform where the parties came closest to an agreement,” while praising Türkiye as an “ideal host” for prospective negotiations involving Kiev, Moscow, and Washington. Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently referred to the Istanbul agreements as a potential foundation for any future peace settlement with Ukraine.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
