What is Witkoff's brief for Moscow visit?
Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is to travel to Moscow shortly before the US deadline for Russia to end the war in Ukraine expires. The visit will take place on either Wednesday or Thursday, the US president said. European commentators speculate on whom Witkoff will meet with and what the outcome will be.
Attempt at dialogue with uncertain consequences
Commenting in LRT, political scientist Linas Kojala explains the uncertainties that Witkoff's visit entails for Europe:
“The Americans are still trying to talk to Putin. European countries face a challenge because they don't know what message or brief Witkoff has for Moscow. On the one hand sanctions are to be expected, as Trump's deadline for Russia expires this week, after which additional pressure is to be applied. On the other hand, it's unclear what steps on the part of the Kremlin would be accepted by Washington as a gesture of goodwill, and whether these would be compatible with Kyiv's strategic expectations.”
Spectacular outcome possible
Radio Kommersant hopes that the US will make certain concessions to Russia but sees Europe as an obstacle:
“There is speculation that the special envoy could make certain highly advantageous offers that will be difficult to refuse. A spectacular outcome is of course possible, although hard to imagine. What might such an offer look like? It could be that the sanctions against Russia will be partially lifted, or that America would be prepared to unilaterally recognise Crimea [as Russian territory]. The problem is that Europe rejects all this - and its opinion must also be taken into account.”
Still room to negotiate
Witkoff is hardly going to Moscow just to throw down the gauntlet to Russia, the Kremln-affiliated outlet Izvestia surmises:
“The possibility of sectoral agreements on de-escalation can't be completely ruled out - for example a deal on an 'air war ceasefire' often discussed by experts or the extension of the 'humanitarian pauses' proposed by Russia in Istanbul. An indirect argument pointing to a more optimistic scenario could be the information that a meeting with Vladimir Putin is possible during Steve Witkoff's stay in Russia. After all, a meeting at the presidential level would hardly be necessary merely to confirm the receipt of the American 'black dot' [the symbolic death sentence in pirate literature] from the hands of Donald Trump's envoy.”
A glimmer of hope
The countdown is on, La Stampa hopes:
“Donald Trump's ultimatum to the Kremlin, the deadline for which was shortened from 50 to ten days after Russia's recent bombardment of Ukrainian cities, expires on Friday, and Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, wrote in the Washington Post that this week 'the world may be presented with an opportunity to end the war'. White House envoy Steve Witkoff is expected in Moscow, from where he has been absent for months after Trump's optimism evaporated when the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul collapsed.”