Trump adviser claims Ukraine war was ‘provoked’

(MENAFN) Steve Witkoff, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, has stated that the Ukraine conflict was "provoked" and that Russia’s actions were a response to a security threat posed by Western promises to admit Ukraine into NATO. In an interview with CNN, Witkoff suggested that the situation is not as simple as labeling Russia as the aggressor, noting that Moscow viewed the NATO discussions regarding Ukraine as a direct threat to its security, which led to its response.

Witkoff pointed out that the conflict could have been avoided, but emphasized that it was not solely caused by Russia. He also discussed Russia’s willingness to engage in peace talks, referring to the negotiations in Istanbul in 2022, shortly after Moscow launched its military campaign. These talks ended abruptly when Ukraine withdrew following pressure from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to continue the fight.

The peace talks had resulted in a preliminary agreement, which would have seen Ukraine adopt a neutral status with a limited military, protected by security guarantees from major powers, including Russia. Witkoff suggested that this agreement could serve as a useful framework for future negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently referred to the Istanbul talks as an important reference point, while Russia’s President Putin has also mentioned the agreements as a potential foundation for peace.

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