The German tabloid Bild reports that Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, severely misunderstood Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance on Ukraine. According to Bild, Russia has never abandoned its maximalist demands in Ukraine.
Ahead of the peace summit scheduled for August 15, the Kremlin has remained firm on full control over five Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea, as a precondition to ceasefire.
Russia reportedly only proposed “sectoral ceasefires” — such as mutual halts of attacks on energy infrastructure or large cities behind the frontlines — but never an end to major Russian offensives along the front. In April, Witkoff visited Putin and brought back hopeful signals that later proved unfounded.
Meanwhile, the US offered a freeze of conflict along the current frontline in exchange for broad sanctions relief and new economic agreements with Russia, but the Kremlin rejected this proposal.
Bild claims Witkoff misunderstood several Russian statements, incorrectly interpreting the Russian demand for a “peaceful withdrawal” of Ukrainians from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as a “peaceful withdrawal” of Russian forces from those regions.
A Ukrainian government official told Bild: “Witkoff doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” This assessment is reportedly shared by German government officials.
On Thursday evening, a phone call took place between US government representatives — including Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President J.D. Vance — and European partners. According to Bild, the US side was perceived as chaotic and disunited.
Witkoff’s comments about the Kremlin meeting on Wednesday were seen as confusing; he appeared overwhelmed and unable to effectively discuss territorial issues in Ukraine.
Tensions also arose between Witkoff and Rubio over the approach, with the Secretary of State emphasizing the need for European involvement in further processes, while Vance and Witkoff preferred merely to inform Europe about Trump’s next steps.
