When the world is waiting for the next movement of Russia regarding a suspension agreement for weapons with Ukraine, just one man was trusted that he was directed by Donald Trump’s envoy to Moscow – and is far from a typical diplomat.
Initially called the Middle East envoy Trump shortly after the US election, Steve Witkoff was involved in negotiations with Russia regarding the end of the war in Ukraine.
His unexpected trip to Moscow last month to realize Freeing American citizen Marc Fogel He appeared to secure the 67-year-old as a geopolitical geopolitical trader of the leader.
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It is believed that at the back of the first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr. Witkoff sees him again this week to debate diplomatic proposals – although Kremlin has not yet confirmed this.
He was elected to Moscow by Mr. Trump over the Secretary of US State Marco Rubio, who on paper is the best diplomat of the country, and Keith Kellogg, who was awarded as an American envoy for Russia-Ukrainian peace in January.
So who is Steve Witkoff and the way vital the character might be because the US is attempting to move in peace between Russia and Ukraine?
From real estate in New York to an oval office
Born in Bronx, New York, Witkoff trained as a real estate lawyer before he returned his hand to the development of real estate.
In the Nineteen Nineties he created his company, The Witkoff Group, which owns many real estate in New York, especially the Park Lane Hotel and the Woolworth constructing.
Like Mr. Trump, he introduced his close members of the family to his company, including his wife Lauren Rappoport and their sons Zach and Alexander, who’re the coordinate director.
From 2019, the Witkoff Group had almost 50 properties in the US and the rest of the world.
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“If Russia says no, he will tell us a lot”
“My dear President President Trump”
The billionaire for many years knew Trump, for the first time he met him through a New York company from the real estate industry, in which the president was currently a client.
The remaining close, the couple got involved with mutual love for Golf and was prescribed by the US senator Lindsey Graham as “longtime golf buddies”.
Mr. Witkoff was one of those on the fifth hole with the president at his course in West Palm Beach in Florida in September last 12 months, when his life was made in his life.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Witkoff in 2018. Pic: AP
But despite the indisputable fact that they’re regular opponents on the course, Witkoff and Mr. Trump are very adapted to politics, and the businessman gave the Republican parties during the 2024 election.
In July last 12 months he even spoke at the Republican National Convention, where he said he had the “privilege” of naming Mr. Trump “a real and expensive friend for many years, in good and bad times.”
Mr. Witkoff also strongly supported Trump’s foreign policy, saying at the inauguration parade: “We finished wearing the financial burden of nations that do not want to finance their own progress.
“The days empty checks are over.”
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A critical player in negotiations in the Middle East
During the first term of Mr. Trump, Witkoff played a small role, acting as one of the great American groups of the president’s economic awakening industry – which was geared toward combating the effects of Covid -19 pandemic.
According to NBC, it was during lunch with Mr. Trump after the second election victory that Witkoff took the idea of working in the Middle East – in a region with which he has extensive business ties.
“It stunned me because I didn’t know he was interested in the Middle East,” said Senator Graham in January NBC, discussing the meeting of Mr. Witkof.
“And Trump looked at me and said,” Well, a million people tried. Let’s select a nice guy who is a sensible guy. “
Trump and Mr. Witkoff speak in January. Pic: AP
From the starting of the 12 months, Witkoff turned out to be a critical player in negotiations between Israel and Hamas – helping to secure the January weapon suspension agreement, which thus far released some of the other Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
One person acquainted with negotiations described Mr. Witkoff NBC as someone who is “very involved” with “his heart is in the right place.”
A diplomat from the Middle East, who talked to the NBC, provided anonymity, added that the businessman was a hard negotiator, but he was also in a position to “sympathize” with parents who lost their children on either side of the conflict when he openly talked about his son Andrew, who died of Oxycontin -Proredose in 2011.
The US delegation – with Witkoff – meets with officials of Saudi Arabia and Russia. Photo: Reuters
Growing criticism
Despite praise for the approach of Mr. Witkof to geopolitics, there is also increasingly more criticism towards him.
Shortly after visiting Gaza in January, he supported Mr. Trump Announcement of surprise that the US desired to “develop” the region and switch it into “the Middle East”.
Trump suggested that two million people is not going to return to their territory as part of plans, which has been widely criticized as ethnic purification.
Mr. Witkoff said he had developed “Friendship” with Vladimir Putin
Mr. Witkoff also faces questions during the first private meeting with President Putin last month in which he said developed “Friendship” with the Russian leader.
Speaking of his relationship with Mr. Putin, he said: “I spent a lot of time with Putin. Talking and establishing friendship and a relationship with him … “
He claimed that their conversation lasted over three hours.
However, the details of the conversation and discussed have never been published, and only translates present at the moment.
