President Donald Trump’s main negotiator who works to end the Russian war in Ukraine predicted that Trump would have a “successful” phone call with President Vladimir Putin on Monday, saying that he believed that the conversation “would contribute largely to identify where we are and how we complete this negotiation.”
“I think the president will have a successful call, with Vladimir Putin,” said the special envoy of the United States Steve Witkoff on Sunday in “this week.” “They know each other. The president is determined to do something here … if he can’t do it, then no one can.”
The delegations of Ukraine and Russia met Thursday in Turkey on Thursday for the first direct conversations related to the end of the war, Russia began in February 2022 when he launched a large -scale invasion of his sovereign neighbor. A Ukrainian source told ABC News after those conversations that the Russians were making unrealistic demands. A week earlier, Vice President JD Vance had said of the Russians: “We believe they are asking too much.”
When asked if he shared Vance’s evaluation, Witkoff told “This Week”, co-destacked Jonathan Karl that his “evaluation is that this is a very complicated conflict that should not have happened.”
“I think in a negotiation like this, people take positions,” Witkoff said. “The art here is to limit … that, you know, a great position between the parts. And I think that to some extent we have done it. To some extent, each part is, it is, you know, to bet on its positions. And I think that Monday will contribute greatly to identify where we are and how we complete this negotiation.”
Trump announced on Saturday that he will talk to Putin on Monday at 10 am et. The president said he planned to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and “several” NATO allies after his call with Putin.
Here are more outstanding aspects of Witkoff’s interview:
Says the enrichment of Iranian uranium ‘very clear red line’ in the conversations of nuclear agreement
Karl: Can you give us: give us the feeling of what is the summary of the agreement that President Trump wants to obtain with Iran?
Witkoff: Well, the president has been very clear, he wants to resolve this: this diplomatically and dialogue conflict. And he is given, he has given all the signs. He has directly sent letters to the supreme leader. They have also sent me to deliver that message, and I have delivered it. …
We have a very, very clear red line, and that is enrichment. We cannot even allow 1 percent of an enrichment capacity. We have delivered a proposal to the Iranians who believe that it addresses some of this without disrespecting. … But everything starts for us, from our point of view, Jon, with an agreement that does not include enrichment. We can’t have that. Because enrichment allows the weapon. And we will not allow a bomb to go here.
But then, there are all kinds of ways to achieve our objectives in this negotiation. We believe we will meet at some point in this week in Europe. And we hope it leads a real positivity.
Says many ongoing ‘initiatives’ to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza
Karl: Are you pressing the Israelis to allow that help to enter and be delayed in some of the offensive operations that remain in progress in Gaza?
Witkoff: The president, Jon, is a humanitarian. And I think anyone is worried about humanitarian conditions in Gaza. That said, it is a very complicated situation there. Logistically, we are: I do not think there is light of the day between the post of President Trump and the position of Prime Minister Netanyahu. The problem is now: I think the problem is now, how do we logistically take all those trucks to Gaza? How do we establish the aid stations? There are many things: initiatives in which we are working to address this. There, there will be mobile kitchens that will be sent there. The flour: we have trucks with flour waiting on the edge. The Israelis have indicated that they will begin to allow many more trucks to enter. But it is complicated. It is logistically complicated.
Dismiss the Ethics concerns about Qatar’s gift 747-8 Jet for Air Force One
Witkof: It is a perfectly legal government for the Government, the Department of Defense, to the transaction of the Department of Defense that occurs in the normal course and has been happening in the normal course at all times, throughout our existence. Governments exchange services. … They (the Qatar) decided to donate something due to all the wonderful things we have done for them in the past, and in addition to that, then, in addition, they announced investments worth $ 1.2 billion in the United States of America, which will create jobs and do all kinds of wonderful things.
So, not really, I am not sure how someone would see this like the Qataris that seek to obtain some kind of advantage. … I just mean that this is for the benefit of the United States of America, that donation. So, just have to be seen that way.
