Trump envoy's peace bid criticized as Ukraine faces 'shameful' terms
After meeting with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump's advisor Steve Witkoff revealed the Kremlin's demands for ending the war, which involve Ukraine's capitulation on "shameful" terms. The best thing Americans could do now is to give up on negotiations on this matter, said Gen. Roman Polko, former commander of GROM.
Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of the US President for the Middle East, spent several hours on Friday talking in St. Petersburg with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his advisors, Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev.
In a Monday interview with Fox News, Witkoff assessed that an agreement with Russia on the war is "emerging" and could alter relations between the two countries. "It took us some time to get to this point—understanding what Putin's demands are to achieve lasting peace. So beyond a ceasefire, we received a response to that," Witkoff announced.
So, what are Putin’s demands? According to an advisor to Donald Trump, the proposed peace deal would center primarily on Russia's five seized territories—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea. However, the scope extends beyond territorial claims. The envoy pointed out that the agreement would also touch on broader security arrangements, including NATO affiliation, the applicability of Article 5, and other intricate details.
Experts emphasize that the weakest link in the negotiations is the American negotiator, namely Witkoff.
"The Russians mock openly"
"It's a joke how he behaved. He believed that Putin prayed in front of a portrait of Trump after an attempt on his life. That's blatant mockery. I think the Russians are mocking him openly. Either it's his stupidity or wishful thinking," commented Gen. Roman Polko, former head of the special unit GROM.
He emphasizes that Kyiv doesn't need a "negotiator" who behaves like a Moscow official.
"The demands are, in fact, Ukraine's capitulation: giving its territories to Russia, demilitarization, and organizing elections where a Kremlin-affiliated person would win; that's Putin's narrative that Witkoff repeats. It's a joke. Strangely, someone who calls himself a negotiator cannot present even one element that would be a concession or sign of goodwill from Russia," noted Gen. Polko.
Meanwhile, according to Nedim Useinov, a political scientist from Crimea, Russia's demands are nothing new.
"We've already heard this. And now Witkoff, who is closer to the Kremlin than understanding Ukraine's rationale, repeats it. For the USA, Russia is now a more important partner for talks on the international stage. Europe and Ukraine are not on Trump's level. Additionally, the American president prefers to talk to individual European countries rather than the European Union. With those, he can make deals," believes the expert from the think tank The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF).
What's next for the USA in NATO?
The political scientist from Crimea also refers to Witkoff's words about NATO.
"I think the USA will gradually withdraw its involvement in the North Atlantic Alliance. It has already announced plans to withdraw its membership contributions. It still has to go through Congress, but the signal is clear, and the trajectory of the Trump administration's movement is evident," assesses Useinov.
And, as he recalls, for Trump, there is no problem at all in telling Putin that Ukraine will never join NATO.
"This is such an easy argument that it can be put on the negotiating table immediately. It's obvious; no surprise. Similarly, with the annexation of the four eastern Ukrainian regions and Crimea. We've heard that, too," comments the Crimean political scientist.
Nedim Useinov assures that the President of Ukraine will not agree to Putin's demands.
"The White House is in the thrall of false Russian narratives. Of course, as a small player, Trump would like the Ukrainian president to listen to what Washington has to say and implement the findings. But that won't happen," he emphasizes.
According to the political scientist, it is not excluded that Trump will soon get frustrated with Ukraine and tell the European Union to handle ending the war and talks with Russia independently.
"Capitulation of Ukraine on shameful terms"
Meanwhile, Gen. Polko believes that the White House and the Kremlin are currently establishing a policy of the concert of powers. He does not rule out that in exchange for giving up Ukraine to Putin, the USA will want to make deals with Russia on other matters.
"Putin still conducts barbaric attacks on civilians, and he continues not to give up on having Ukraine in the Russian sphere of influence. The conditions mentioned by Witkoff mean Ukraine's capitulation on 'shameful' terms. The best thing Americans could do now is to give up on negotiations in this matter as they have nothing to do with peace talks", claims Gen. Polko.
Our interlocutor reminds us that Ukraine must pay for American support with resources.
"It would reduce its role to that of an American colony, where Washington would share the spoils with Moscow. And all this just beyond our border," concludes the former head of GROM.
