Trump Ally Undermines Leader with Disappointing Putin Summit Take

Trump's Ukraine Negotiator Faces Scrutiny Over Summit Outcomes

President Donald Trump’s top negotiator in Ukraine, Steve Witkoff, appeared uncertain when discussing the outcomes of the president’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The discussion revolved around what progress had been made toward achieving peace in the ongoing conflict.

Witkoff, who serves as the special envoy to the Middle East, claimed that some level of progress had been achieved during the summit. However, he admitted that Trump had not secured a ceasefire, which was a promise made prior to the meeting. On CNN’s State of the Union, Witkoff stated, “Maybe not enough for a peace deal, but we’re on the path for the first time.”

He emphasized that Russia had agreed to “legislative enshrinement in the Russian Federation” to avoid targeting European countries or violating their sovereignty. This statement was vague, and Witkoff hinted that the lack of a ceasefire at the Alaska summit could lead to an end to the fighting. He argued that the focus should be on a permanent peace deal rather than a temporary ceasefire.

Host Jake Tapper questioned how not securing a ceasefire could be considered a win. Witkoff responded by explaining that the meeting addressed several critical issues that would have needed to be discussed during a ceasefire period. He highlighted the fundamental issue of a potential land swap, which he said could not be addressed during the Alaska summit.

Witkoff also mentioned that the Russian delegation had made “some other concessions on several of the regions [of Ukraine],” calling them “significant.” However, he acknowledged that these concessions were not sufficient on their own. He added that territorial concessions would be discussed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.

Another point of contention was Witkoff’s claim that Putin had agreed to “effectively offer Article Five-like language to cover a security guarantee.” This reference to NATO’s Article Five, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all, raised questions. When pressed by Tapper, Witkoff clarified that the agreement involved the U.S. and European nations offering similar security guarantees, not necessarily binding Russia to NATO’s terms.

Witkoff’s comments followed a poorly received meeting with Putin earlier in the week, where he misinterpreted Putin’s request for a “peaceful withdrawal” of Ukrainian forces from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as a concession for Russian troop withdrawals. This misunderstanding highlighted the challenges of navigating complex diplomatic discussions.

Trump himself rated his meeting with Putin as a “10 out of 10,” despite the lack of a ceasefire. After the meeting, Trump revised his stance, shifting from demanding a ceasefire to pursuing a peace deal that includes territorial concessions to Russia.

According to a European diplomat who spoke to Fox News, Trump supports the idea of Russia taking full control of the eastern Donbas region, which includes Luhansk and Donetsk. Zelensky has previously rejected such proposals, warning that they could open the door for further Russian incursions.

Ultimately, Witkoff maintained that the success of any peace deal would depend on what the Ukrainians are willing to accept. He continued to place the responsibility on Zelensky to make significant concessions to end the war.

The White House has not yet commented on the situation, and The Daily Beast has reached out for further information.