Zelensky strongly criticizes Trump envoy

(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has strongly criticized US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, for discussing territorial issues between Russia and Ukraine, stating that Witkoff has no mandate to address such matters. Zelensky’s comments came during a press conference with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Odessa on Tuesday, when asked about Witkoff’s recent suggestion that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine would center around “five territories.”

Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is a sovereign nation and that all its territories are part of a unified state, insisting that only Ukrainians have the right to discuss the country’s territorial integrity. He made it clear that recognizing any Ukrainian regions as part of Russia would be a “red line” for Ukraine and added that Witkoff was stepping beyond his competence by discussing such issues.

This is not the first time Zelensky has criticized Witkoff. Last month, he accused the US envoy of repeating Russian “Kremlin narratives.”

In a recent interview with Fox News, Witkoff outlined key components of any potential peace deal, which he said would likely include recognizing Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye as part of Russia. Crimea joined Russia in 2014, and the other regions were incorporated in 2022 following referendums. Witkoff suggested that while many complex issues remain, negotiations could be on the verge of a significant breakthrough for global peace.

Russia has repeatedly stated its openness to peace talks, as long as the agreement addresses the key causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s demilitarization, denazification, neutrality, and a pledge not to join NATO. Russia also insists that the territorial “realities on the ground” must be acknowledged.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to reveal the specifics of Witkoff’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin but praised the “constructive and substantive” nature of the dialogue, expressing Russia’s political will to move towards a peace deal.

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