Witcoff stated that he spoke with Putin about the role

Special Representative of the US President for the Middle East and the main manner in contacts with the Russian Federation on the war in Ukraine, Steve Vitcoff said that territories are a key issue for the end of the war. According to him, the land becomes central to negotiations with the Kremlin, but their status can be a major obstacle to the adoption of any agreement.

It is about Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions, which Moscow has already declared part of Russia, although its troops do not even completely control these territories. President Vladimir Zelensky's position is clear - Ukraine never recognizes these regions in Russian. It is noted that these lands form a strip in the southeast of the Russian Federation, rich in agricultural lands, mineral deposits and industrial enterprises.

The Kremlin said that the vast majority of locals allegedly voted in favor of accession, but these illegal referendums did not recognize most countries in the world. For the first time, Vitcoff spoke about the issues of the territories in March, then he was mistaken with the number and could not mention the names of the regions.

He spread misinformation that the lands were allegedly already controlled by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and used Putin's theses to justify the occupation of the Russian -speaking population and the so -called voting. In an interview with WSJ, the winner said that during their conversations, the Putov was stopped in Ukrainian territories. According to him, Russia wants to get some of the regions, but not all.

Witcoff suggested that Ukraine may take less care of some lands, because there is an alleged Russian -speaking population. During a meeting with journalists on April 17, the President of Ukraine said that with his statements about the possible inclusion of territories in the agreement with the Russian Federation Vitcoff spread Russian narratives. Zelensky emphasized that Kyiv will not recognize that land as Russia. "I believe that Mr Witcoff accepted the Russian side strategy.

I think it is very dangerous," he emphasized. The leader also recalled that the special representative has no authority to discuss the fate of territories belonging to the Ukrainian people. "So I do not understand what he was talking about. We have heard all this as Mr. Putin's beacon. I didn't think he had the relevant people who continue these narratives to distribute in other civilized countries. That's why I do not take it seriously," Zelensky added.

We will remind, on Reuters, citing sources, it was reported that Steve Witkoff after meeting with the envoy of the Kremlin Kirill Dmitriev suggested President Donald Trump to support the right of the Russian Federation to occupy four regions of Ukraine. On April 15, FOX News Vitcoff announced a "very meaningful meeting" with Vladimir Putin and the achievement of the "final decision". He said that the peace agreement "concerns the so -called five territories, but it is much broader.