Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused US envoy Steve Witkoff of spreading “Russian narratives” after he made comments about occupied parts of Ukraine. During a news conference, Zelensky said that Witkoff’s statements were “dangerous” and contradicted Ukrainian interests.
Witkoff recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the third time, describing their talks as “compelling.” He stated that any peace deal in Ukraine would focus on five territories: Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. These regions were annexed by Russia during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The international community has widely rejected the annexations, with many viewing the referendums held in these regions as a sham. Ukrainian officials have accused Witkoff of echoing Kremlin talking points, including dismissing concerns about Putin’s intentions and claiming that most people in the occupied territories want to be under Russian rule.
Ukrainian parliament member Oleksandr Merezhko has also criticized Witkoff’s comments, saying he may be inadvertently pushing pro-Russian narratives. This is not the first time Witkoff has faced accusations of spreading Kremlin lines; a previous interview with Tucker Carlson highlighted his praise for Putin and dismissal of European concerns about Putin’s intentions.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-administration-tariffs-04-18-25/index.html