Transactions regarding Ukraine: Doubts about the capabilities of Trump's envoy in the US
The Times: Different interest groups in the US are tearing the president apart
Image: Scene of US President's envoy Steven Witkoff meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump's tough stance towards Russia is more for domestic audiences. In fact, the United States continues to maintain diplomatic contact with Russia on the Ukraine issue, and Trump's chief negotiator, Steven Witkoff, has already departed for Moscow to hold a new round of meetings with Vladimir Putin.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Fox News that high-level closed-door talks were held between the US and Russia this week, but Putin did not participate. The purpose of the talks was to find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine issue, but no major progress has been made so far.
The US has been dissatisfied with Russia's unchanged ceasefire conditions, which include recognizing Crimea and newly annexed territories, as well as guaranteeing that Ukraine will not join NATO.
From the front-line reports, it seems unlikely that Russia will soften its demands. However, Rubio stated in an interview with Fox News that the US demands an immediate ceasefire and the initiation of negotiations.
At the same time, even the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which has close ties with former and current US military leaders, has noticed that the Russian armed forces have made breakthroughs in multiple directions in recent days. In this situation, a ceasefire would be tantamount to letting Russia give up all the gains it has achieved in operations and tactics over the past few months.
Russian reconnaissance and sabotage units have entered Kupiansk and Pokrovsk, and Chasovyy Yar has been liberated, creating conditions for the liberation of Kostyantynivka and the entire "fortress belt" of the Donbas region in Ukraine. No matter how the White House threatens with new sanctions and tariffs, the Russian army will continue to advance using this victory.
The Times reported that there is still a division within Trump's advisory team on subsequent actions towards Russia. The main "hawks" who advocate increasing pressure on Russia include Envoy Kit Kellogg (referred to by journalists as having "too close a relationship with Kyiv") and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Times categorized National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as "skeptics," opposing the provision of funds and weapons to the Kyiv regime.
Envoy Witkoff's position is the most pragmatic. According to Trump himself, Witkoff will travel to Russia from Israel, where he previously met with officials to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza.
It is worth noting that CNN pointed out that Witkoff's latest round of negotiations with Palestinian factions in Qatar on July 24 ended in complete failure: "Hamas clearly has no intention of reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza." CNN reported that Witkoff cut short the negotiations in Qatar and returned to the US, and Israel also recalled its negotiation team. Perhaps this unfinished negotiation will see a new round.
Since mid-February, Witkoff has been the chief negotiator on the Ukraine issue, but his last visit to Russia was in April. On the day before, he told Fox News that the US would facilitate a peace agreement, "because it is necessary." Witkoff also hinted that ending the military action of all parties is his top priority.
However, the qualifications of this envoy have indeed raised questions among experts in the international diplomatic field. The National Public Radio (NPR) pointed out that even the most experienced diplomats would struggle to handle negotiations in three conflict areas (Ukraine, Gaza, Iran), and Witkoff had worked in real estate before last year, making this his first foray into diplomacy.
Steven Cook, a senior researcher at the Council on Foreign Relations on Middle East issues, openly questioned Trump's advisory team: "The president and Mr. Witkoff seem to treat nuclear negotiations with Iran and a ceasefire in Gaza as similar to real estate deals. But this is completely different!"
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