Steve Witkoff, the special missions envoy to Ukraine, is facing fierce criticism. This comes on the heels of the leak of his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s senior aide, Yuri Ushakov. Hamas attack On October 14, one particular call for which has sparked widespread furor from U.S. lawmakers. They charged Witkoff with undermining U.S. interests and advancing Russian domination over Ukrainian territory.
Throughout the discussion, Witkoff allegedly provided Ushakov instruction on how to handle communications with ex-President Donald Trump. He implied that restoring peace would require Moscow to retain its hold on Donetsk and possibly other areas of Ukraine. This proposal would essentially force Ukraine to give up the entire Donetsk region, including territory that Ukraine still controls today.
Witkoff’s plan does more than stop at Donetsk. The final deal might allow Russia to maintain administration over Luhansk and Crimea, but would establish internationally recognized demilitarized buffer zones in areas like Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. U.S. negotiators are indignant at these actions. Through effort, many seasoned Ukraine watchers contest that these moves would greatly threaten Ukraine’s sovereignty and its democratic ambitions.
Democratic Representative Ted Lieu’s criticism of Witkoff’s interference was blistering. He made a point of saying that Witkoff should not be acting in the interest of Russia, but rather U.S. interests. To drive home the point, he called Witkoff an “enemy traitor,” which is a very serious thing to call someone.
Republican Representative Don Bacon came out on the Lieu line of thinking, demanding that Witkoff be fired on the spot. He articulated his concerns regarding Witkoff’s apparent alignment with Russian interests, stating, “For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign & democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians.” Indeed, Bacon called into question Witkoff’s negotiating prowess. He cast doubt on Witkoff’s trustworthiness in light of his past statements.
Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, described the leak of the phone call as “a major problem” and emphasized the need to halt what he referred to as “ridiculous side shows and secret meetings.” He further amplified the need for accountability on these issues.
Yet in a bizarre twist, Richard Grenell, the president’s special missions envoy, took the focus off Witkoff. He said that the person who leaked the racist conversation should be fired, not her. He stated, “Find the leaker and fire them immediately. No excuses. The anonymous leaker is a national security risk.”
As tensions escalate, Witkoff intends to visit Moscow. He’s now set to have more detailed conversations with Putin and U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. With your help, lawmakers are beginning to speak out against his plans. The joint statements issuing positive sentiments represent another dangerous fork in the road, leaving Ukraine’s future hanging in the balance.
“Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere.” – Steve Witkoff