Trump envoy criticized for ignorance of Ukrainian territories

Steve Witkoff, a top foreign policy envoy for Donald Trump, faced criticism for failing to remember the names of Ukrainian territories during a TV interview. Witkoff, a real estate developer with no diplomatic experience, struggled to name the regions involved in negotiations with Russia. He mistakenly included Crimea among the Russian-occupied territories, which is incorrect as it is a separate area seized by Russia in 2014. Critics argue that his confusion highlights a lack of understanding in the Trump administration's approach to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. They pointed out that Witkoff referenced Kremlin-organized referendums as proof of support for Russian rule, despite these votes being widely discredited as illegitimate. Witkoff, 67, has been a friend of Trump and was chosen for his negotiating skills. While he primarily serves as a Middle East envoy, he has also visited Moscow to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. His comments during the interview have raised concerns that he is promoting pro-Russian views instead of remaining neutral. He also claimed that Ukraine's leadership was willing to hold a presidential election, despite official statements from Kyiv stating that elections are not possible during wartime. Additionally, Witkoff mentioned Trump's friendly ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, including a story about a prayer for Trump after a recent assassination attempt. In his role as Middle East envoy, Witkoff downplayed the idea of U.S. military action against Iran. He suggested that Trump's recent letter to Iran’s supreme leader was meant to encourage dialogue rather than threaten military action.