Trump's secret envoy mission: American freed in Russia deal
The US President, Donald Trump, has secretly instructed his special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to support the negotiation process with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, reports "The New York Times", citing sources.
The information emerged following Witkoff’s visit to Moscow, during which the Russian side handed over American citizen Mark Fogel, who had previously been sentenced to 14 years in prison in Russia.
Trump trusts his envoy
According to NYT sources, a few weeks ago, Trump secretly authorised Witkoff to "expand his portfolio beyond the Middle East" in order to initiate dialogue with Russian representatives. Trump, who trusts Witkoff due to their friendship since the 1980s, is convinced that his long-term associate possesses the necessary diplomatic skills to support ending the conflict in Ukraine, notes the newspaper.
Meanwhile, as stated by the newspaper’s sources, even before travelling to Moscow, Witkoff conducted a series of conversations with individuals close to Vladimir Putin. He also explored possible ways to resolve the Ukrainian crisis with his contacts in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Gulf countries have long expressed a willingness to act as mediators in peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, emphasises the NYT.
Exchange between the USA and Russia
The newspaper also notes that it remains unclear whether there has been a direct conversation between Trump and Putin. Official representatives of both sides have not confirmed such contact; however, several high-ranking members of Trump’s administration, who would typically be informed about such a call, have stated that they have no information on the matter.
Witkoff left Russia with the released Mark Fogel on the evening of 11 February. The US administration emphasised that it considers this move a gesture of "good faith" from Russia, as well as a positive signal in the context of a possible peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.
Former diplomat Mark Fogel was detained at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow in 2021 while attempting to bring 11 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of hash oil into Russia. According to Fogel himself, he used these substances for medical purposes following spinal surgery, as confirmed by entries in his medical records. In 2022, a Russian court sentenced him to 14 years in prison.
