Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, is playing a central role in the Trump administration’s approach to securing peace in both Gaza and Ukraine.
Here’s what he said on each topic Sunday, ahead of another busy week of diplomacy:
Ukraine war negotiations: Witkoff said he was traveling with a US delegation to Saudi Arabia on Sunday to begin talks with senior Moscow officials aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Witkoff disputed criticism that Ukraine isn’t part of the Saudi Arabia talks, pointing to President Donald Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other high-level Trump officials’ engagement with Ukrainian officials.
He described the upcoming negotiations as “trust-building” toward the ultimate goal of ending the war.
Gaza ceasefire: Witkoff expressed confidence that phase two of the uneasy ceasefire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas would take place.
“Phase two is absolutely going to begin,” he told Bartiromo, noting that he spoke by phone with leaders in Israel, Qatar and Egypt over the weekend.
Phase two of the ceasefire would include the return of 19 Israel Defense Forces soldiers, whom the US believes to be alive, as well as others, including American citizen Edan Alexander.
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