Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, claimed Putin was willing to offer major territorial concessions to end the Ukraine war, but later retracted the statement, causing confusion among European leaders during a summit in Alaska.
Putin’s Proposal: Trump Praised a “Major Advance”
On August 6, Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. According to Reuters, citing two sources familiar with the matter, Witkoff later informed Donald Trump that Putin was prepared to make significant territorial concessions to end the war in Ukraine. Trump reportedly praised the “major advance” and agreed to host a summit in Alaska.
Witkoff’s Diplomacy: Trump’s Envoy May Have Created Chaos
However, Witkoff’s diplomacy reportedly caused confusion. The next day, on August 7, Trump’s envoy allegedly suggested to European leaders that Putin was ready to withdraw troops from the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions in exchange for Russia formally recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk. Four sources told Reuters this statement surprised participants, but Witkoff later retracted it during a teleconference, claiming Putin had not proposed anything of the sort.
Reuters: Witkoff Violated a Basic Diplomatic Rule
Reuters could not confirm the exact proposals discussed during the Moscow meeting. The agency emphasized that Witkoff, lacking diplomatic experience, violated a fundamental principle by failing to document Putin’s offers accurately. He attended the teleconference with European leaders without taking any notes.
Source: Gazeta, Reuters
