Steve Witkoff faces growing criticism from Kyiv and Moscow

Both Kyiv and Moscow are expressing growing dissatisfaction with the role of US envoy Steve Witkoff in the peace mediation process regarding the war in Ukraine. Despite efforts by Witkoff and Jared Kushner to restart stalled negotiations during a visit to Russia and Ukraine in early September, the mission yielded no significant results.

Ukrainian officials have criticized Washington for a lack of new ideas and insufficient pressure on Russia. There are concerns that Witkoff may not fully grasp the political and historical complexities of the conflict. Reports suggest he has occasionally approached negotiations without sufficient seriousness, even leaving meeting rooms for walks during sessions.

A specific point of contention involves territorial demands. During discussions, Vladimir Putin reportedly noted a '3+2' formula on paper, referring to the occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea. Ukrainian officials expressed doubt that Witkoff fully understood the implications of these Russian demands when conveying them to Washington.

In Moscow, dissatisfaction has also mounted. Russian officials have partially blamed Witkoff for the failure of a previous summit in Alaska and have raised concerns regarding his communication with Donald Trump. Despite these behind-the-scenes efforts to marginalize his role, Trump has not shown intention to remove Witkoff from his position.