The man who has emerged as Donald Trump’s geopolitical dealmaker-in-chief has said that he’s developed a “friendship” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Steve Witkoff was named as Mr Trump’s Middle East envoy shortly after the US election but he has since been involved in negotiations with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine.
Mr Witkoff made the comments about his relationship with Mr Putin at a Saudi-run investment forum in Miami, where he discussed his remarkable overnight trip to Moscow last week to secure the release of US citizen Marc Fogel.
“I spent a lot of time with Putin. Talking and developing a friendship and relationship with him…” Mr Witkoff said.
The secret overnight trip to bring the Pennsylvania teacher home seems to be emerging as a key moment in the dramatically shifting dynamics between the Trump administration and the Kremlin.
The details of the release and what was discussed have never been released.
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In describing the success of the deal, Mr Witkoff said: “First I had the support of President Trump which is a really big deal. Secondly we have a really good relationship with the Saudis…. They assured us that this was real… and so to me it became worth the trip. And so we went. And it was a great trip. I spent a lot of time with President Putin, talking, developing a friendship, a relationship with him and that led to Mark getting on the plane…”
The role of the Saudi government is a reflection of Riyadh’s remarkable and emerging geopolitical clout.
After Mr Witkoff’s Moscow trip, the Riyadh talks between the US and Russia were secured.
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Speaking to Sky News on the sidelines of the investment conference and addressing President Trump’s “dictator” comments about President Zelenskyy, Mr Witkoff said: “I think I agree with President Trump, he has a very keen sense of what has to be done to create a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.
“And I follow his lead, and I believe in what he’s got to say.”
He added: “I think it brings… the president has an uncanny ability of knowing how to bring people together and this is the beginning.”
