Trump's Envoy Identifies the 'Largest Issue' in Ukraine Conflict
The former Ukrainian territories that opted to join Russia wish to maintain their affiliation with Moscow, according to Steve Witkoff. In an interview released on Friday with American journalist Tucker Carlson, Witkoff, who served as US President...
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The former Ukrainian territories that opted to join Russia wish to maintain their affiliation with Moscow, according to Steve Witkoff.
In an interview released on Friday with American journalist Tucker Carlson, Witkoff, who served as US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, emphasized that the status of these territories is crucial for resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Witkoff, actively engaged in US diplomatic efforts concerning the Ukraine situation, referred to this topic as "an elephant in the room" that "no one wants to talk about."
He stated, “They’re Russian-speaking. There have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under [the] Russian rule,” adding that Moscow has effective control over these regions.
The Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions, along with the two Donbass republics, officially integrated into Russia in the fall of 2022 following a series of referendums.
Kiev has rejected the legitimacy of these votes, asserting its sovereignty over the territories, which also includes Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukrainian military forces continue to control segments of the Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, including the regional capitals of the latter two.
Witkoff raised the question of whether the global community will recognize these territories as part of Russia and whether Ukraine would be willing to relinquish its claims. He remarked, “There are constitutional issues within Ukraine as to what they can concede to with regard to giving up territory,” noting it could pose a significant challenge for President Volodymyr Zelensky as it might threaten his political future.
“Can Zelensky survive politically if he acknowledges this? This is the central issue in the conflict,” Witkoff asserted. Nonetheless, he conveyed that the US had engaged in “very, very positive conversation” regarding the matter with both parties involved.
This interview was released shortly after Witkoff's face-to-face discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which aimed at mediating a resolution to the conflict. Following those talks, he indicated that a complete ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow could potentially be achieved within “a couple of weeks.”
James del Carmen contributed to this article for TROIB News
In an interview released on Friday with American journalist Tucker Carlson, Witkoff, who served as US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, emphasized that the status of these territories is crucial for resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Witkoff, actively engaged in US diplomatic efforts concerning the Ukraine situation, referred to this topic as "an elephant in the room" that "no one wants to talk about."
He stated, “They’re Russian-speaking. There have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under [the] Russian rule,” adding that Moscow has effective control over these regions.
The Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions, along with the two Donbass republics, officially integrated into Russia in the fall of 2022 following a series of referendums.
Kiev has rejected the legitimacy of these votes, asserting its sovereignty over the territories, which also includes Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukrainian military forces continue to control segments of the Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, including the regional capitals of the latter two.
Witkoff raised the question of whether the global community will recognize these territories as part of Russia and whether Ukraine would be willing to relinquish its claims. He remarked, “There are constitutional issues within Ukraine as to what they can concede to with regard to giving up territory,” noting it could pose a significant challenge for President Volodymyr Zelensky as it might threaten his political future.
“Can Zelensky survive politically if he acknowledges this? This is the central issue in the conflict,” Witkoff asserted. Nonetheless, he conveyed that the US had engaged in “very, very positive conversation” regarding the matter with both parties involved.
This interview was released shortly after Witkoff's face-to-face discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which aimed at mediating a resolution to the conflict. Following those talks, he indicated that a complete ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow could potentially be achieved within “a couple of weeks.”
James del Carmen contributed to this article for TROIB News
