The Trump administration is growing increasingly concerned over Steve Witkoff’s solo meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the New York Post. Witkoff, a former real estate attorney and investor, has met with Putin four times since February without experienced diplomatic advisers or vetted interpreters, breaking U.S. diplomatic protocol.
Witkoff, who is tasked with negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine, has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum for his direct, unsupervised diplomacy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and some Russian state media outlets have accused or praised Witkoff for echoing the Kremlin’s messaging.
The Trump administration official quoted by the Post described Witkoff as “a bumbling f***king idiot” who should not be meeting with Putin alone. Retired Army General Keith Kellogg, who was reassigned to focus on Ukraine negotiations, has criticized Witkoff’s lack of experience in diplomacy.
Witkoff’s meetings with Putin have led to a 72-hour ceasefire proposal that the U.S. rejected in favor of a 30-day ceasefire deal. The proposal follows discussions between Ukrainian and White House officials in March.
Source: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/05/01/trump-officials-alarmed-by-envoys-solo-talks-with-putin-nyp-a88946