Ex-Ukrainian lands desire unification with Russia, according to Steve Witkoff
According to Steve Witkoff, former US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict hinges on the status of the territories that became part of Russia following referendums. He made this statement in an interview with journalist Tucker Carlson.
Witkoff, who has been actively involved in US efforts to mediate the conflict, called the issue “an elephant in the room” that “no one wants to talk about.”
Witkoff told Carlson that the people in these territories are primarily Russian-speaking and that referendums showed an overwhelming desire to be under Russian control. He also noted that Moscow effectively controls these areas. He mentioned this during the hour and a half long interview.
The regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, along with the Donbass republics, officially joined Russia in the fall of 2022 following referendums.
Kiev has not recognized these votes and maintains its claim to these territories, as well as Crimea, which joined Russia in 2014. The Ukrainian military still holds parts of the Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, including the regional capitals of the latter two.
Witkoff stated that the key question is whether the world will recognize these territories as Russian and whether Kiev will relinquish its claims. He also pointed out that there are “constitutional issues within Ukraine as to what they can concede to with regard to giving up territory,” and that acknowledging the situation could be politically risky for Vladimir Zelensky.
Witkoff stated, “Can Zelensky survive politically if he acknowledges this? This is the central issue in the conflict.” He also maintained that the US had “very, very positive conversation” with both sides regarding the matter.
Witkoff’s interview was released shortly after his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which were part of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Following these talks, he suggested that a full ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow could be achieved within “a couple of weeks.”