Witkoff misunderstood Putin and confused Trump – details of the negotiations

US special envoy Steve Witkoff has faced criticism from both Ukraine and Russia. According to sources cited by the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv believes the negotiator does not fully understand the nuances of the war, while Moscow accuses him of inaccurately conveying the Kremlin's position to Donald Trump. In April 2025, Putin made a note "3+2" on a sheet of paper; Witkoff took it to Washington and relayed to Trump information about Russia's readiness for a compromise that did not match the Kremlin's actual stance.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff has come under fire from both Ukraine and Russia. According to sources cited by the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv believes the negotiator lacks a sufficient understanding of the war's specifics and territorial issues, while Moscow accuses him of inaccurately conveying the Kremlin's position to Donald Trump. One episode that raised questions occurred during talks in April 2025. During the meeting, Putin made a note "3+2" on a sheet of paper, related to possible territorial concessions. Witkoff took the sheet with him to Washington. Later, Trump's envoy spoke of a potential agreement that would cover five territories: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, as well as Crimea. According to a source for the publication, Witkoff told Trump that Russia was ready to discuss a scenario where Ukraine would relinquish control over Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and Russia would withdraw from the parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions it had occupied. However, this interpretation allegedly did not match Putin's actual position. The source believes Witkoff misunderstood the Russian president and conveyed a more compromise-oriented version to Trump than Moscow was truly prepared for. Separate complaints also concern the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska. According to the publication's interlocutors, Witkoff failed to fully convey to the US president the importance for the Kremlin of having the agreements reached put in writing. As a result, the meeting ended without a specific document formalizing its outcomes. In Kyiv, questions about Witkoff's behavior had arisen earlier. One Ukrainian official said that during certain meetings, the US negotiator would unexpectedly leave the room without explaining his departure to other participants. Additionally, the Ukrainian side noted his positive remarks about Putin. Meanwhile, the Trump administration rejects such assessments. White House representative Anna Kelly called the published information "nonsense" and stated that Trump and Witkoff continue to work actively to end the war.