Witkoff’s 3-Hour Talk With Putin Signals Backchannel Diplomacy

Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has come under fire after reportedly misinterpreting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ceasefire terms, according to German outlet BILD. Sources say Putin demanded full control of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson while offering only a limited halt to attacks on energy sites and major cities—not a full ceasefire. Witkoff allegedly believed Putin was proposing a withdrawal from Ukrainian territories, a misunderstanding that baffled both European partners and members of Trump’s own team. High-level calls between U.S. and European officials exposed confusion, internal disagreements, and a lack of unified strategy. With Trump’s Alaska meeting with Putin looming on August 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed that Ukraine will never surrender its land. The revelations raise concerns about U.S. negotiation credibility, European involvement, and the risks of misreading Moscow’s intentions in the ongoing war. #Trump #Putin #UkraineWar #Ceasefire #SteveWitkoff #BILD #RussiaUkraine #Zelensky #Donetsk #Luhansk #Kherson #Zaporizhzhia #USPolitics #Europe #Diplomacy #Geopolitics #PeaceTalks #WarInUkraine #Russia #AlaskaSummit ~HT.318~ED.103~GR.124~