Russia Trump envoy praises Putin after meeting in Moscow
US special envoy Steve Witkoff expects a personal meeting between Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in the coming months. Putin knows that it is currently politically difficult for Trump to come to Russia, Witkoff said in an interview with the right-wing online commentator Tucker Carlson. "I think it was very generous of him to receive me."
22.03.2025, 15:20
SDA
Witkoff had traveled to Moscow twice in recent weeks to talk to Putin in person about ending Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, among other things.
He does not consider Putin to be a "bad guy", Witkoff continued. "It's a complicated situation, this war, and all the ingredients that led to it. You know, it's never just about one person, right?" Witkoff had already spoken very positively about the Kremlin leader after his first meeting with Putin and said that a friendship had developed with him.
Witkoff: Putin has prayed for Trump
The 68-year-old said that it was now a matter of building a relationship of trust with Putin. A conflict with a major nuclear power can only be resolved through talks. Putin had also told him that he had prayed for the Republican after the assassination attempt on Trump last summer, Witkoff continued. "He prayed for his friend."
With regard to the negotiations on an end to the war, Witkoff said: "We want the Russians to be satisfied in some way. We want the Ukrainians to be satisfied in a certain way. We are talking to the Europeans." In the end, there should be an agreement "that everyone can live with", said the special envoy. "The goal is a 30-day ceasefire, during which we will talk about a permanent ceasefire. We are not far away from that."
