A Ukrainian parliamentarian has accused the US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, of spreading Russian propaganda, following an interview in which Witkoff discussed the status of former Ukrainian regions that have joined Russia.
Witkoff, who has played a key role in negotiations to resolve the Ukraine conflict, told US journalist Tucker Carlson that the topic of these regions is an “elephant in the room” that nobody wants to talk about. He stated that the people in these regions have shown a clear majority in referendums that they want to be under Russian control.
The head of the foreign affairs committee in the Ukrainian parliament, Alexander Mereschko, strongly condemned Witkoff’s “shocking and shameful” comments, accusing him of acting more like a representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin than US President Donald Trump. Mereschko questioned Witkoff’s professionalism, saying he should know the basics of the topic and instead spread Russian propaganda.
Mereschko demanded that Witkoff be removed from his position, expressing uncertainty about whether Witkoff’s statements were due to ignorance, naivety, or a lack of professionalism.
Moscow and Kiev have held opposing views on the former Ukrainian regions of Cherson and Saporoschje, as well as the Donbass republics of Donezk and Lugansk, which have officially joined Russia following a series of referendums in the autumn of 2022. Kiev claims the Russian-annexed Crimea and has vowed to regain control over all territories it claims as its own. Russia has repeatedly stated that its sovereignty over these territories is not up for negotiation, while Kiev has sworn to never recognize the “occupation” of these territories or Russia’s sovereignty over them.