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Witkoff Optimistic on Ukraine Talks, Says Putin 'Wants Peace'
NewsMax ^ | Sunday, 23 March 2025 10:30 AM EDT

Posted on 03/23/2025 11:01:13 AM PDT by SoConPubbie

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism on Sunday ahead of high-stakes talks in Saudi Arabia to end the war in Ukraine and said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to end the three-year-old conflict.

"I feel that he wants peace," Witkoff told Fox News.

A U.S. delegation is due to hold talks later on Sunday in Saudi Arabia with Ukrainian officials on a possible partial ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. U.S. and Russian officials will then hold talks on Monday, also in Saudi Arabia.

"I think that you're going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that, you'll naturally gravitate into a full-on shooting ceasefire," Witkoff said.

Putin agreed last week to stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities temporarily but declined to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire that Trump hoped would be the first step toward a permanent peace deal. Ukraine accepted Trump's 30-day proposal.

Asked about Western criticism of Putin, Witkoff said he believed there were two sides to every story and played down concerns among Washington's NATO allies that Moscow could be emboldened by a deal and invade other neighbors.

"I just don't see that he wants to take all of Europe. This is a much different situation than it was in World War Two," Witkoff said.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Russia
KEYWORDS: apieceofbelarus; apieceofestonia; apieceoflatvia; apieceoflithuania; apieceofpoland; apieceofthat; apieceofthis; apieceofukraine; apieceoggeorgia; partialceasefire; putin; trump; witkoff
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1 posted on 03/23/2025 11:01:13 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: SoConPubbie

Putin drops people off of buildings.
Witkoff promises to drop buildings on people.


2 posted on 03/23/2025 11:03:17 AM PDT by monkeyshine (live and let live is dead)
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To: SoConPubbie

“...Gentlemen may cry, “Peace! Peace!”; but there is no peace...”
~Patrck Henry - March 23, 1775


3 posted on 03/23/2025 11:17:00 AM PDT by Repeal The 17th (Get out of the matrix and get a real life.)
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To: SoConPubbie

“Putin agreed last week to stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities temporarily but declined to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire”

Shocking.
/s


4 posted on 03/23/2025 11:22:40 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (The road is a dangerous place man, you can die out here...or worse. -Johnny Paycheck, 1980, Reno, NV)
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To: monkeyshine; SoConPubbie

I am suspecting that Witkoff isn’t as naive and gullible as he appears to be.
The only logical explanation to his gullible behavior towards Russia is probably meant to purposly appear that way - to bait Russia into a false sense of security and trying to make them more open for negotiations that way.

I don’t think he will give up everything to Russia and asking for nothing in return, because that would make America look like a weak Carter regime based on “Peace through Weakness”. America can’t afford to look weak again - especially after Biden’s catastrophic Afghanistan pullout...

And China is watching any weak American moves...


5 posted on 03/23/2025 11:29:56 AM PDT by USA-FRANCE (The Iran-Russia-North Korea-China Alliance is at war against Israel and Ukraine. Let's not forget.)
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To: SoConPubbie

Putin was misled. He thought his little escapade
would be a “Walk in the park”
He has demonstrated his Military is not world class.
Were it not for its NUKEs Russia, is a paper tiger.
Personally I don’t think most of their nukes are fully functional anymore. You do have to maintain them.
Maintenance doesn’t seen to be high on the Russian military’s list of priorities.
Putin wants peace as he has killed off a generation of his young men.
Who is going to work in his factories and
man his military?
But He has to save “Face” no matter who has to die to do that.


6 posted on 03/23/2025 11:33:30 AM PDT by rellic (No such thing as a moderate Moslem or Democrat )
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To: SaxxonWoods

Why should he. That guy z is completely untrustworthy as Is the rest of western europe at this point.

Putin is no angel.That’s for sure.But now countries in western europe are more communist than him.


7 posted on 03/23/2025 11:35:35 AM PDT by dp0622 (Tried a coup, a fake tax story, tramp slander, Russia nonsense, impeachment and a virus. They lost.)
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To: rellic

“He thought his little escapade would be a “Walk in the park””

Link please...or are you, yet another, Putin mind-reader?


8 posted on 03/23/2025 11:41:09 AM PDT by BobL (The people who hate Trump demand that you hate Russia)
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To: SoConPubbie

He’s a diplomat.

What’s he going to do tell the truth, than neither Putin nor the little dictator wants peace?


9 posted on 03/23/2025 11:44:58 AM PDT by Biblebelter
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To: Biblebelter

It will be difficult to extract peace from what has been hatched, here.

Ukraine wants to pretend that it was never part of the Soviet Union and Russia thinks that that Union can collapse without cost or consequences.

In any event, NATO is dead. Go Sweden!


10 posted on 03/23/2025 11:54:22 AM PDT by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: SoConPubbie

Yes. Pooty-poot demands peace through surrender...and Xi is just Winnie the Pooh.


11 posted on 03/23/2025 12:01:02 PM PDT by fuente (Liberty resides in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box and the cartridge box--Fredrick Douglas)
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To: USA-FRANCE

I suspect his public persona is for public consumption… behind closed doors he’s probably a straight shooter and is dryly delivering the POTUS’ messages, intents and desires.


12 posted on 03/23/2025 12:01:37 PM PDT by monkeyshine (live and let live is dead)
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To: SoConPubbie

A partial ceasefire sounds like being partially pregnant.


13 posted on 03/23/2025 12:02:11 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustmilents offered here free of charge)
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To: SoConPubbie

Bombing Odessa while the PM of Belgium is there is a sure sign of peaceful feelings.


14 posted on 03/23/2025 12:04:38 PM PDT by Midwesterner53
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To: Biblebelter
"Z" is the problem...."To the Victor goes the Spoils" has been the Rule since the beginning of time.

Ukraine said nothing about getting Crimea back in the 8 years before the 2022 incursion. And remember, the Ukrainian military walked away from Crimea...saying they were not going to kill their brothers...It was a Civil War.

The latest Russian hit was at Odessa...that will become a bargaining chip...to always keep it open for Ukraine...

Ukraine has nothing to bargain with...no money, no arms...we're paying for their pensions. The EU and their pack of thieves...gain absolutely nothing by continuing this war. Nothing...not a damn thing. Wise up!!

15 posted on 03/23/2025 12:04:51 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: BobL
“He thought his little escapade would be a “Walk in the park””

Link please...or are you, yet another, Putin mind-reader?

"Putin Boasts of Being Able to Take Kiev in 2 Weeks"

https://time.com/3259699/putin-boast-kiev-2-weeks/

He apparently overstimated his nation's abilities.

16 posted on 03/23/2025 12:13:55 PM PDT by Engraved-on-His-hands
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To: SoConPubbie
Witkoff Optimistic on Ukraine Talks, Says Putin 'Wants Peace'

Sure, and the ancient Romans wanted peace too, "Pax Romana".

17 posted on 03/23/2025 12:14:46 PM PDT by tlozo
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To: Sacajaweau

War mongering, Europeons are severely lacking in intelligence and strength.
Russia will get the areas they won back and the rest of Ukraine will be fine with it. Most Ukrainians want the green shrimp, dictator Zelensky gone, but he refuses to allow elections. I guess they’ll have to find another way to rid themselves of him.


18 posted on 03/23/2025 12:18:08 PM PDT by doc maverick
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To: SoConPubbie
Please stop. pushing Putin propaganda here .
ARe you a paid troll .
You post nothing but Russian troll bs. Putin is a murderous KGB monster .
Ask the poor souls he killed running the Stasi .
Did you ever visit West Berlin and see your employers work . The Berlin Wall . This devious crook is a Crook with wants Russian corrupt action not with the state dept .
Trump is a fool to get linked with this scam artist .
19 posted on 03/23/2025 12:26:36 PM PDT by ncalburt ( Gop DC Globalists are the evil )
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To: SoConPubbie

He also wants Crimea and the land he took.

People in Hell want ice water.

Everyone wants something.


20 posted on 03/23/2025 12:37:33 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
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