Trump's Man is a Master of Disaster – Is He Dangerous?

In the article cited by Index, it was recalled how U.S. President Donald Trump had once issued harsh warnings to Russia and its President, Vladimir Putin, insisting they end the war, or face consequences. Yet, all those threats have vanished like last year’s snow.

Instead, Foreign Policy notes, in Alaska, Trump invited Putin, who stands accused of war crimes, into his limousine for a private conversation, showered him with public praise, and spoke about the bright future of U.S.-Russian relations.

Putin reveled in the attention, celebrating his escape from international isolation. Russian politicians hailed the meeting as a huge triumph. Shortly afterward, Putin ordered new drone, and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, killing at least 14 civilians, while Russian forces continued to advance on the front lines, Foreign Policy points out.

The paper also questioned what Ukraine can expect in return, warning that the first signs are ominous.

Following the summit, Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that "it will be up to him" to end the war. Although Trump struck a more positive tone during his August 18 meeting with Zelensky and European officials at the White House, the fact remains that Washington is now pressuring Ukraine to cede territory to the aggressor.

On Moscow’s behalf, the U.S. is even demanding that Kyiv surrender additional areas not currently under Russian occupation.

The Shadow Man

At the White House meeting, Trump offered the possibility of U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a deal. But beneath the smiles and reassurances, unease lingered.

While Trump makes the final decisions, the negotiations would not be in such disarray without Steve Witkoff, Trump’s secretary of state and his shadow man, according to Foreign Policy.

It was Witkoff’s repeated visits to Moscow that set these events in motion. He excluded State Department experts from meetings, at times relying solely on interpreters provided by the Kremlin, a grave breach of diplomatic protocol.

He is even accused of not knowing the names of the Ukrainian provinces whose fate he is negotiating.

Parroting the Kremlin

Witkoff has maintained Trump’s favor largely by parroting Kremlin talking points. He repeated false claims about discrimination against Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine and legitimized the 

occupation of territories through so-called “referendums,” where residents allegedly voted to join Russia, ignoring that such votes were conducted at gunpoint.

Witkoff has also openly praised Putin, a leader infamous for poisoning his critics. “I don’t consider Putin a bad guy,” he said, describing him as "kind" and “great,” according to Foreign Policy (misspelled "Forin Polisi" in the source).

Astonishingly, Keith Kellogg, the former general tasked with regular visits to Kyiv, was sidelined, while the bumbling Witkoff, who channels Putin’s views, secured an invitation to the Alaska summit.

"In a world where accuracy and professionalism matter, Witkoff would have been replaced long ago. Instead, he perfectly embodies Trump’s approach to international relations, one based on contempt for diplomatic expertise and a naïve belief that everything can be solved with ‘common sense’ and a pat on the back," Foreign Policy observes.

What’s Next for Ukraine?

The question now, the paper continues, is whether Ukrainians and their European allies will accept a deal that forces them to surrender thousands of square kilometers of their land.

Ukraine is being lured with promises of commercial opportunities and security guarantees, offered by a man who cannot even name the provinces he is negotiating over. But Ukrainians are fighting not only for territory, but for sovereignty, democracy, and survival.

Moscow and Washington can issue diktats, but unless they address the root cause of the conflict, Russia’s imperial ambitions, they will resolve nothing.

“Steve Witkoff is a master of disaster waiting to happen,” the paper concludes.