Steve Witkoff Boasts Meeting With Putin in Russia

Steve Witkoff continues to be Donald Trump’s main man abroad. His most recent trip: Russia, where he privately met with Vladimir Putin.

The real estate developer discussed his trip to Russia on this weekend’s “Face the Nation” program, CBS News reported. Witkoff said he was the only U.S. official present for a three-and-a-half-hour meeting with the Russian president, though two translators were also there.

Witkoff went to Russia two weeks ago to bring back Marc Fogel, an American imprisoned abroad for possession of medical marijuana. Before leaving the country with Fogel, however, Witkoff said he had a sitdown with Putin, as he was “intent on carrying a message from the president to President Putin.”

Putin gave Witkoff a private message for Trump, as well. Afterward, Witkoff proclaimed that “a lot of good things got accomplished” without providing additional details.

Last week, Witkoff was back on his turf in the Middle East, where the U.S. and Russia discussed an end to the war in Ukraine. Trump has falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war. Ukrainian officials were not present at those discussions.

Witkoff is fashioning himself as a peacemaker and key Trump player, at least in the eyes of the president.

He played a role on the ground in the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas in Gaza before his official duties even began, though the effort was led by negotiator Brett McGurk.

Witkoff was golfing with Trump in West Palm Beach last September when a Secret Service agent opened fire on a person hiding along the perimeter of the course.

Trump has credited Witkoff with helping the then-candidate bury the hatchet with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, publicly thanking the Witkoff Group head for facilitating a “great meeting” between the former political adversaries.

— Holden Walter-Warner