Media learns about Kremlin’s condition for meeting between Witkoff and Putin
21 December 00:21
The Kremlin has set a condition for Steven Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Moscow, to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin before his first trip to the country. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the newspaper, Putin was interested in meeting with Vitkoff. The invitation was conveyed by the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, through the Crown Prince, Saudi Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
The Kremlin’s condition was that Mr. Vitkoff should come to Moscow alone, unaccompanied by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officials, diplomats, or even an interpreter, the WSJ source said.
WSJ: Putin studied psychological profiles of officials from Trump’s entourage
According to the newspaper, Putin studied the psychological profiles of officials from Trump’s entourage, including the US President’s Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Russian intelligence reports prepared for Putin emphasized that Kellogg’s daughter was engaged in charitable activities in Ukraine, which was a worrying signal and indicated that he might be hostile to Russia’s demands during future peace talks, the newspaper said.
According to the newspaper, Kellogg also ignored a statement by TV host Tucker Carlson, who at one stage claimed that Moscow was ready to start negotiations.
The newspaper: Vitkoff and Dmitriev “are developing a new economic and political order for Europe”
As a result, Kellogg is leaving his post, and Vitkoff and Dmitriev are “designing a new economic and political order for Europe,” The Wall Street Journal writes.
Meanwhile, the bilateral control mechanisms that existed before are no longer in place. Since June, the United States has not had an ambassador in Moscow. James O’Brien is no longer the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. Witkoff has rejected several offers from the CIA to hold a briefing on Russia. The US State Department has allocated a small team of staff to support the special envoy, but members of this team, like other administration officials, are having great difficulty obtaining reports on Witkoff’s foreign meetings.
Vitkoff visited Russia for the sixth time in December
Against this backdrop, in December, Vitkoff visited Russia for the sixth time, and had a five-hour conversation with Putin that lasted until midnight, the WSJ reports. At the same time, the special envoy has never been to Ukraine.
The story of Vitkoff’s mediation, in particular, shows how Putin is trying to push aside American diplomats and establish contact with the United States at the level of businessmen, the newspaper states.
Putin says he is “itching” to continue the war
According to Reuters, Donald Trump’s negotiators, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and investor Steven Witkoff, have been discussing a 20-point peace plan for several weeks. Despite the American side’s statements about progress, the territorial issue remains a key obstacle.
Meanwhile, on December 19, Putin announced during a “direct line” that Russian troops were advancing on all fronts and said that he was “itching to continue the war” because, in his opinion, Kyiv was not showing readiness for peace. Russia currently controls about 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory, including annexed Crimea.
