On February 11, the world’s attention was focused on Steve Witkoff, who unexpectedly arrived in Moscow. Although officially his visit was connected with the release of American teacher Mark Vogel, analysts and the world media quickly suspected deeper political motives behind the trip.
The Washington Post wrote that the dismissal of Mark Vogel was just a cover story, but in fact, Witkoff met with Putin and talked to him for almost 3 and a half hours.
Fox News and channel host Sean Hannity also clarified the duration of the conversation. The New York Times did not receive evidence of such a conversation from its sources, but previously wrote that in the Middle East, Steve Witkoff was concerned not only with the Gaza Strip, but also negotiated with unnamed close allies of Putin, and discussed Ukraine with representatives of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Who is Steve Witkoff?
Steve Witkoff is an American businessman, a major real estate developer and owner of iconic real estate, including the Woolworth Building in New York City. His personal and business ties with Trump go back decades: they met in 1986, and their friendship and partnership became so strong that Witkoff even lent Trump a plane due to an assassination attempt.
However, most of the world has only recently become aware of him because of his peacekeeping mission in the Middle East. According to insiders, Witkoff’s role was significant. Having the status of Trump’s emissary, he exerted pressure on all the participants in the negotiations. But it is worth noting that his role in this case should not be overestimated, because the architecture of the agreement was ready a year before the ceasefire and was authored by Anthony Blinken’s team.
In the days that followed, the media gave Steve Witkoff different names, and Trump quickly confirmed his status, officially granting him the powers of the US President’s Special Representative for the Middle East.
I know this man very well. President Trump is the kindest and most compassionate person I’ve ever met in my life, – Steve Witkoff said of Trump at the Republican Party convention in October 2024.
It is also known that Steve Witkoff testified in court in favor of Trump when he was accused of fraudulently defrauding the public of $250 million through a golf course in Miami. He also donated $2 million to Trump’s 2020 campaign.
US President Donald Trump has also assigned “a role in the peace process” between Russia and Ukraine to Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
The New York Times reported that earlier, Donald Trump had officially appointed his representative Keith Kellogg as the US President’s Special Representative for Ukraine and Russia. However, Trump also appointed Witkoff to “play a role in the peace process”.
According to the newspaper’s sources, a few weeks ago, Trump secretly authorized Witkoff to expand his portfolio beyond the Middle East in order to open a channel for negotiations with the Russians.
At present, Steve Witkoff’s exact powers remain unclear.
Moscow, vogel and the secret mission
Still, the official reason for Witkoff’s visit to Moscow was the dismissal of American teacher Mark Vogel. He flew to Russia in August 2021, where he worked as a teacher at an Anglo-American school. Unfortunately, he had 17 grams of medical cannabis with him in a contact lens box, for which he had a prescription and even a record in his medical record.
The teacher also had 14 cartridges for electronic cigarettes, in which the Russians found only 8 grams of hashish oil.
For this, the Russians sentenced Vogel to 14 years under the article on drug smuggling.
President Trump, Steve Witkoff and presidential advisers negotiated the exchange, which is a show of goodwill on the part of the Russians and a sign that we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and horrific war in Ukraine, – commented National Security Advisor Mike Volz.
President Trump personally met Vogel and, commenting on the release of the American citizen, said that it could play an “important role” in ending the war in Ukraine. Secretary of State Rubio, who also met the former Kremlin prisoner, spoke in the same vein.
Conclusions
Steve Witkoff is not just a real estate developer and close friend of Trump, but also an significant shadow diplomat. If secret talks with Putin really took place during his visit to Moscow, it could mean that the Trump administration is preparing for a new format and stage of relations with the Kremlin. It remains to be seen whether this will be in Ukraine’s favor. But it is clear that Witkoff is one of the key figures among Trump’s people who can influence the course of world politics.
