Trump envoy Witkoff sparks outcry after backing Kremlin talking points on Ukraine

[groundloop]

Source: ABC News

Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy and lead negotiator tasked with ending the war in Ukraine, has attracted criticism in Europe and Ukraine after an interview where he appeared to back a number of well-known Kremlin talking points on the conflict.

The comments, in which Witkoff seemed to accept the results of sham referenda Russia has previously held in Ukraine to justify its seizure of land there -- including Crimea, will likely feed fears among European allies that the Trump administration is leaning too far toward the Kremlin's vision.

In the interview for "The Tucker Carlson Show," posted online on Friday, Witkoff talked about his efforts to negotiate with President Vladimir Putin, speaking warmly of the Russian leader. Witkoff said he believed the heart of the conflict was Russia's desire to control four regions of Ukraine it partially occupied and has claimed annexed since 2022: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Talking about Putin's claims to the regions in eastern and southern Ukraine, Witkoff suggested Russia had a right to them because they were majority Russian-speaking and repeated a false Kremlin claim that fair referenda there showed residents wanted to be absorbed by Russia.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-envoy-witkoff-sparks-outcry-after-backing-kremlin/story?id=120113827

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The referendum votes were held AFTER Russia's invasion of the area and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians had already fled the area.

[Deuxcents]

1. I should think that any person representing the US would be fluent in Ukrainian history while negotiating

Peace plans

[Diraven]

2. So the USA is English-speaking

Does that mean that England has the right to annex us?

[Qutzupalotl]

3. According to this report, Trump is interested in joining the British Commonwealth:

Donald Trump Suggests US Could Join British Commonwealth

Source: Newsweek

President Donald Trump suggested that the United States could join the British Commonwealth on Friday in a post to Truth Social, his social media platform.

The president shared an article from British tabloid The Sun reporting that King Charles III was making a "secret offer" to the White House, and that plans are in process for the U.S. to become an associate member of the international organization.

"I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!" Trump wrote in response to the report.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-suggests-us-could-join-british-commonwealth-2048679

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143422883

[DallasNE]

4. He Also Confessed He Was "Duped"

By Hamas in failed talks to extend the ceasefire in Gaza. That’s two quick strikes on Witkoff.

[nwduke]

5. Witkoff On the Putin loving Carlson show?

It’s disgusting that this clown goes on the Russian backed talk show to praise a murderous dictator who order women and children in Ukraine to be drug into the street with their hands tied behind their backs then shot in the head! Also who kidnapped thousands of Ukrainian children and shipped them to eastern Russia! This traitorous, Putin loving clown show administration is disgusting!🤬 All in the hopes of getting a trump hotel in Moscow and other financial perks!🤬