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Trump envoy doesn't believe Putin wants to take over Europe

Politics March 23, 2025

Witkoff will meet with Russian and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia this week

Trump special envoy on Putin's continental aspirations: 'I just don't see that he wants to take all of Europe'

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff details the latest on Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks, his meetings with Vladimir Putin, the breakdown in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and the president's push for a nuclear deal with Iran.

President Donald Trump's envoy to Russia and Ukraine says he doesn't believe Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to invade Europe.

Envoy Steve Witkoff made the statement during a Sunday morning appearance on "Fox News Sunday," commenting on Putin's motives on a "larger scale."

"Now I've been asked my opinion about what President Putin's motives are on a larger scale. And I simply have said that I just don't see that he wants to take all of Europe," Witkoff said.

"This is a much different situation than it was in World War II. There was no NATO," he added. "I take him at his word in this sense."

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Witkoff speaks to reporters outside White House

Envoy Steve Witkoff says he doesn't think Putin wants to take over Europe. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The comments come just before Witkoff is set to meet with Russian and Ukrainian delegations for indirect ceasefire talks in Saudia Arabia. Trump's administration hopes to mediate a larger peace deal.

"I think 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 to a full-on shooting ceasefire," he said Sunday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with President Trump about potential peace agreements last week. (Aleksey Babushkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo)

Moscow spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that there are many roadblocks that could prevent a peace deal, however.

"We are only at the beginning of this path," he told reporters this weekend.

Russia launched a massive drone attack targeting Kyiv and other major cities in Ukraine overnight on Sunday, highlighting just how far there is to go before a peace agreement can be made.

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KYIV, UKRAINE - MARCH 23: Upper floors of a 9-story residential building in the Dniprovskyi district are damaged by a Russian drone strike - a fire broke out in apartments on March 23, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine. In the early morning, the Russian army attacked Kyiv and Oblast with Shahed-type drones, most of which were intercepted by Ukraine's Air Defense Forces. However, the fragments of some drones damaged residential high-rise buildings, an office building, and vehicles in at least five districts of the city. At least 8 people were injured; and three were killed, including a 5-year-old child. (Photo by Roman Petushkov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

A residential building in the Dniprovskyi district is damaged by a Russian drone strike on March 23, 2025, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Roman Petushkov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Ukraine's air force says the Russian attack involved 147 drones, 97 of which were shot down and 25 others failed to reach their targets.

Ukrainians at the scene of the attacks in Kyiv surveyed the damage done to their homes and neighborhoods on Sunday morning. Many were disparaging of the upcoming ceasefire talks, pointing to the burned-out homes destroyed in the drone attack, saying these were more indicative of Russia’s true intentions.

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

via March 23rd 2025