Steve Witkoff and the Ukraine Crisis: Accusations of Incompetence and Vance Responds Strongly

Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump for peace in Ukraine, is facing sharp criticism following the publication of a lengthy report on the American news site "Politico."

The report described Witkoff's performance as lacking in experience and showing "clear incompetence" in dealing with the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, noting that he treats the conflict as if it were a "simple real estate problem," relying on his background as a businessman in real estate rather than as an experienced diplomat.

The report, which was based on testimonies from American and European diplomats, stated that Witkoff "appeared unprepared" in several sensitive meetings, causing discontent among Washington's allies in Europe.

These allies expected the American envoy to have a "clear vision and deeper negotiating experience" in dealing with the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The controversy peaked when Witkoff reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin was willing to abandon his demand for the annexation of Ukrainian regions such as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as part of negotiation talks.

However, this narrative contradicted U.S. and European intelligence assessments, prompting him later to retract and confirm that no concrete offers had been made by Moscow regarding this issue.

In contrast, there was a strong response from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who considered the "Politico" report an attempt to undermine the efforts of the U.S. administration and to undermine its credibility.

In statements reported by the media, Vance described the report as a "shameful foreign influence operation," asserting that "Steve Witkoff is undertaking a difficult mission in one of the most complex international crises," noting that the media attacks against him are a coordinated attempt to question his integrity and competence. He added: "We will not allow misinformation, and Witkoff has the president's trust and our full support."

Witkoff, who has a strong background in real estate and has been a prominent supporter of Trump since his first campaign in 2016, is the first American special envoy for peace in Ukraine.

Although he has never held any diplomatic or political position, he was chosen for this role due to his close relationships with Trump.

However, his appointment raised questions about his suitability to handle the complexities of the geopolitical conflict, as some observers felt that his experience in finance and business might not be sufficient for negotiations of this magnitude.

While others believed that his background as a non-political figure might give him the ability to operate away from traditional bureaucratic constraints.

This controversy comes at a sensitive time, as the Trump administration seeks to push a bold peace initiative to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, amid increasing pressure from European allies who are concerned about potential concessions to Moscow that could harm the unity of the Western stance.

While Witkoff faces internal and external criticism, the White House insists that his role is pivotal and that the media attack against him is nothing but a "deliberate distortion" aimed at undermining the administration's credibility.