A key Ukrainian international affairs official has lashed out at Steve Witkoff for “spreading Russian propaganda”
US President Donald Trump’s particular envoy to the Center East, Steve Witkoff, who has performed a central function in opening negotiations on resolving the Ukraine battle, is “spreading Russian propaganda” and ought to be sacked, in keeping with a senior Ukrainian lawmaker.
The top of the Kiev’s International Affairs Committee, Aleksandr Merezhko, made the comment in response to Witkoff’s interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, throughout which the envoy spoke concerning the standing of former Ukrainian territories which have joined Russia, describing the problem as “an elephant within the room” that “nobody desires to speak about.”
“They’re Russian-speaking. There have been referendums the place the overwhelming majority of the folks have indicated that they wish to be below Russian rule,” Witkoff mentioned.
“The Russians are de facto in charge of these territories. The query is: Will the world acknowledge that these are Russian territories? Can [Vladimir] Zelensky survive politically if he acknowledges this? That is the central concern within the battle,” he added.
Merezhko strongly condemned the “disgraceful, surprising statements,” accusing the Witkoff of appearing as an envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin somewhat than of the Trump.
“We’re speaking a couple of consultant of the president who ought to have skilled experience on this matter and know some staple items. apparent issues. And he doesn’t know this. He spreads Russian propaganda,” the lawmaker insisted in a televised interview. Merezhko mentioned that wasn’t positive if “ignorance, naivety, or unprofessionalism” was behind Witkoff’s statements and referred to as for the US official ought to be booted from his function.
“We clearly can’t dictate to American pals who ought to symbolize them. However this particular person must be faraway from this delegation, he shouldn’t be a consultant of the [US] president. Since he’s both utterly unprofessional or just repeats Putin’s narratives,” Merezhko added.
Moscow and Kiev have taken bipolar positions on the former-Ukrainian Kherson and Zaporozhye Areas and the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, all of which formally joined Russia in autumn 2022 following a collection of referendums. Kiev additionally formally claims Russia’s Crimea, which seceded from Ukraine within the aftermath of a violent Western-backed coup in Kiev and joined Russia in 2014, as its personal.
Moscow has repeatedly signaled that its sovereignty over the territories is just not negotiable, whereas Kiev has repeatedly pledged to grab again management of all of the territories it claims as its personal. The Ukrainian management has seemingly softened its rhetoric as of late, now insisting it’ll by no means acknowledge “occupation” of the territories and Russian sovereignty over them in any type.
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