Confusion Over Peace Terms: Report Claims Trump Envoy Misunderstood Russian Demands

The level of diplomatic misstep from the United States is raising eyebrows, as reports suggest former U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, may have fundamentally misunderstood Russia’s territorial demands in a potential peace agreement with Ukraine.

According to the German outlet Bild, the upcoming meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin—set for August 15 in Alaska—was initially framed around Moscow’s demand to formally incorporate Crimea, along with the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, into Russia, in exchange for withdrawing from Kherson and Zaporizhzhya.

However, Bild, citing anonymous sources, claims Witkoff misinterpreted the terms. In reality, Russia reportedly insists that it is Ukraine—not Russia—that must withdraw from Kherson and Zaporizhzhya, effectively surrendering the territories to Moscow’s control.

If accurate, this revelation casts serious doubt over Trump’s recent comments about pursuing a “land swap” as part of a peace deal, suggesting the former president’s team may be operating on a fundamentally flawed understanding of Russian intentions.

Observers warn that such a miscalculation could severely undermine any negotiation process, with critics calling the alleged blunder “stunning” and emblematic of a troubling lack of preparation ahead of high-stakes diplomacy.