"How Did That Happen?" Jake Tapper Stunned by Steve Witkoff's Shocking Ceasefire Claim

A Controversial Take on the Ukraine War and Ceasefire Negotiations

During a recent segment on State of the Union on CNN, host Jake Tapper was taken aback by the remarks of special envoy Steve Witkoff regarding the potential impact of President Donald Trump’s decision to abandon his demand for a ceasefire during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The discussion centered around the idea that not securing a ceasefire could actually lead to a quicker resolution of the war.

Tapper played a clip from the Friday summit where Trump expressed his desire for an immediate ceasefire, stating, “I want the killing to stop” and “I want to see a ceasefire rapidly.” However, following the meeting, Russia launched 60 aerial attacks across Ukraine, resulting in five deaths. This development raised questions about why Trump did not walk out of the meeting when it became clear that Putin would not agree to a ceasefire.

Witkoff attempted to deflect the question, emphasizing that the purpose of the meeting was to act as a mediator and advance the Ukrainian perspective. He noted that Trump could not agree to any land swaps on behalf of the Ukrainians, which they had explicitly requested. According to Witkoff, this is why the administration was moving quickly to schedule a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Oval Office.

The envoy highlighted that during the Alaska meeting, Trump addressed several critical issues necessary for a peace deal. Witkoff described the ceasefire as an “interim move,” suggesting that the discussions had progressed much further than just focusing on a temporary halt to fighting. He argued that the progress made during the meeting allowed the administration to pivot toward negotiating a comprehensive peace deal.

“Now, we’re not waiting a week for a meeting with President Zelensky and the European leaders, or two weeks or three weeks, we’re going into a meeting with them within 48 hours of ending this meeting in Alaska. So we are intent on trying to hammer out a peace deal that ends the fighting permanently, very, very quickly, quicker than a ceasefire,” Witkoff stated.

Tapper was visibly surprised by the claim that delaying a ceasefire could lead to a faster resolution of the conflict. He asked, “How would it be quicker than a ceasefire?” Tapper continued to press the point, noting that Trump had previously expressed a strong desire for a ceasefire and that the failure to secure one had resulted in further casualties.

“I still don’t understand how not getting the ceasefire deal is a win. I understand the idea of wanting this bigger package, of course, but a ceasefire would at least stop the bloodshed right now,” Tapper said.

Witkoff responded by explaining that the thesis of a ceasefire involves discussing all the issues that were resolved during the Alaska meeting, including security guarantees. He maintained that the substantial progress made during the meeting allowed the administration to bypass some of the more complex negotiations that would typically occur during a ceasefire period.

He also mentioned that the fundamental issue of a land swap, which is ultimately under Ukrainian control, would be discussed on Monday. Witkoff expressed hope that clarity on this matter could lead to a lasting peace deal soon.

The conversation underscored the complexity of the situation and the differing perspectives on how to achieve peace in Ukraine. While some argue that a ceasefire is essential to immediately halt the violence, others believe that focusing on broader peace negotiations could lead to a more sustainable resolution.