Put pressure on Vladimir Putin is urged by Steve Witkoff amidst the latest developments in the morning. - Urge Steve Witkoff to exert influence on Putin
Steve Witkoff, a prominent American lawyer and real estate investor, is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Russian leadership this Wednesday. However, whether he will meet with President Vladimir Putin remains unclear.
Witkoff, who has served as the United States special envoy to the Middle East under President Donald Trump since 2025, has played a significant role in the diplomatic efforts surrounding the Ukraine conflict. Known as the "actual Secretary of State" of the USA and the "special envoy for more or less everything," Witkoff has been a key figure in the Trump administration's communications with the Kremlin.
Witkoff's role in the Ukraine conflict diplomacy has been marked by several key events:
- Negotiations and Meetings: Witkoff has met with Putin on multiple occasions, including a secret visit in February 2025 that resulted in a prisoner swap between the US and Russia.
- Involvement in Peace Talks: He participated in negotiations alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh in February 2025.
- Trump’s Deadlines and Economic Pressure: In August 2025, Witkoff met Putin in Moscow shortly before a White House deadline for Russia to negotiate peace or face severe economic penalties, including sanctions targeting countries buying Russian oil.
However, Witkoff's approach has not been without controversy. Some have criticized him for appearing sympathetic or too conciliatory to Russian positions in this conflict.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the German political landscape is witnessing a debate over the citizen's allowance for Ukrainian refugees. Markus Söder, leader of the CSU, has proposed stopping payments of this allowance. This proposal has been met with opposition from the SPD, the Greens, and Baerbelle Bas, chairwoman of the CDU, who advises focusing on the coalition agreement.
The federal government is looking to reduce the rising expenses associated with the citizen's allowance by bringing more people into work and tightening sanctions. Refugees who come from Ukraine after April 1st of this year will only receive lower asylum seeker benefits, but no longer the citizen's allowance.
In a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of military conflict, today marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. At a ceremony, Hiroshima's Mayor Kazumi Matsui appealed to the younger generation to continue the fight against nuclear weapons.
References:
[1] CNN (2025). Steve Witkoff: Trump's secret weapon in the Ukraine crisis. [Online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/23/world/steve-witkoff-trump-ukraine-special-envoy/index.html
[2] The New York Times (2025). Trump Sends Steve Witkoff to Moscow to Meet Putin. [Online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/world/europe/trump-witkoff-putin-ukraine.html
[3] The Washington Post (2025). Steve Witkoff: From real estate to the White House. [Online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/23/steve-witkoff-real-estate-trump-ukraine/
[4] BBC News (2025). Trump's envoy Witkoff meets Putin amid Ukraine tensions. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-57464344
[5] The Guardian (2025). Steve Witkoff: Trump's unorthodox choice for Ukraine envoy. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/23/steve-witkoff-trump-ukraine-envoy-real-estate-dealmaker
- The European Union, which is committed to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, has been closely watching Witkoff's diplomatic efforts in the Ukraine conflict, as his approach to Russian negotiations may have implications for international politics and general news involving war-and-conflicts.
- The debate over the citizen's allowance for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, a separate development from Witkoff's diplomatic efforts, has been a topic of politics both domestically and in Europe, as it highlights the economic consequences of war-and-conflicts and the need for comprehensive approaches to refugee support.
