Trump envoy Steve Witkoff's plan for peace in Ukraine has Kremlin fingerprints all across it. That's no surprise, says Їne Back Їversen in this guest post, because his entire career does too.
Let’s talk about Steve Witkoff
Guest post by Їne Back Їversen
LET'S TALK ABOUT STEVE WITKOFF, because I think the narrative of him being a “useful idiot” is a dangerous trap to walk in.
It’s darker than that.
Witkoff has spent three decades swimming in russian money, russian mob circles, and russian real-estate pipeline.
He isn’t just “a MAGA dude” advising Trump on Russia–Ukraine. Witkoff is of russian descent, built his fortune through New York City networks flooded with post-Soviet criminal money, and is now pushing the Kremlin wish-list, aka the so called “peace plan.”
It’s darker than that.
Witkoff has spent three decades swimming in russian money, russian mob circles, and russian real-estate pipeline.
He isn’t just “a MAGA dude” advising Trump on Russia–Ukraine. Witkoff is of russian descent, built his fortune through New York City networks flooded with post-Soviet criminal money, and is now pushing the Kremlin wish-list, aka the so called “peace plan.”
It’s not a coincidence. It’s continuity.
In the 1990s, Manhattan’s luxury real estate became the #1 laundromat for russian criminal networks fleeing the collapse of the USSR.
The FBI has testified to Congress about this era. It was no secret.
And who rose to power right then?
Steve Witkoff & Donald Trump.
The Trump Tower in the 80s–90s was filled with Russian mobsters, arms dealers, money launderers, “businessmen” tied to Russian crime boss Semion Mogilevich, and shell companies buying in cash.
Trump didn’t just tolerate it — he blindly” welcomed it.
The Trump Tower in the 80s–90s was filled with Russian mobsters, arms dealers, money launderers, “businessmen” tied to Russian crime boss Semion Mogilevich, and shell companies buying in cash.
Trump didn’t just tolerate it — he blindly” welcomed it.
Trump's buddy Witkoff played on the commercial version of the same ecosystem.
While Trump handled condos bought with suitcases of cash, Witkoff handled big office buildings financed through opaque partnerships & distressed sellers.
Two men, one pipeline of russian capital.
Fast-forward to 2024–25, and Witkoff is Trump’s point man on Russia–Ukraine policy.
A man with zero diplomatic background, zero Ukraine expertise, & a large Russian network and a history of loud Pro-Kremlin cheerleading.
And here we are again, with the U.S flashing Russia's wish-list.
While Trump handled condos bought with suitcases of cash, Witkoff handled big office buildings financed through opaque partnerships & distressed sellers.
Two men, one pipeline of russian capital.
Fast-forward to 2024–25, and Witkoff is Trump’s point man on Russia–Ukraine policy.
A man with zero diplomatic background, zero Ukraine expertise, & a large Russian network and a history of loud Pro-Kremlin cheerleading.
And here we are again, with the U.S flashing Russia's wish-list.
Déjà vu: In 2016, Paul Manafort (the former Trump campaign chairman) met Konstantin Kilimnik (a Russian intelligence asset) to discuss a “peace plan” for Ukraine that legitimised Russia’s invasion, installed a Moscow-approved leader, lifted sanctions, and forced Kyiv to negotiate under duress.
Sound familiar?
And how absurd to hear Trump again and again say “The war would have never started if I were president.” When he knows darn well Russian invaded Ukraine in 2014. And you better believe that Trump will have hear the Manafort “Peace Plan” conversations many MANY times.
Sound familiar?
And how absurd to hear Trump again and again say “The war would have never started if I were president.” When he knows darn well Russian invaded Ukraine in 2014. And you better believe that Trump will have hear the Manafort “Peace Plan” conversations many MANY times.
So here we are again, this time with a 28-point “peace plan” presented handed over by Witkoff.
Same unhinged demands.
Same unhinged demands.
Same twisted narratives.
This is not innovation. This is recycling Kremlin policy. Delivered by business partners disguised as diplomacy.
LET'S GO BACK TO Trump Round 1 again.
It’s easy to forget how disturbing Trump’s private meetings with Putin were:
- No US officials present
- No transcripts
- •No accountability
- Interpreters’ notes seized
- Policy outcomes mysteriously aligned with Russian goals
- Trump’s closed Alaska meeting with Putin.
- Witkoff’s quiet trips to Moscow
- Off-record negotiations about Ukraine
- No transparency? Just “take my word for it, bro.”
Yet the US demand from Ukraine is a the complete opposite, constant transparency, public statements, oversight, disclosures, visibility, “THANK ME!”
But from Russia?
But from Russia?
Not a single demand, just “give them two weeks”
This isn’t diplomacy. It’s appeasement.
This isn’t diplomacy. It’s appeasement.
Witkoff’s public statements are indistinguishable from Russian propaganda regarding Russian language, “Territory is negotiable” etc.
Even in 2018, Witkoff criticized Western economic sanctions against Russia, imposed after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea.
And notice how Witkoff consistently omits Russian war crimes, mass deportations, missile strikes on civilians, nuclear blackmail, and the documented genocide intent.
This is selective ignorance, aimed to whitewash & erase Russia's crimes & force the victim to compromise.
Even in 2018, Witkoff criticized Western economic sanctions against Russia, imposed after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea.
And notice how Witkoff consistently omits Russian war crimes, mass deportations, missile strikes on civilians, nuclear blackmail, and the documented genocide intent.
This is selective ignorance, aimed to whitewash & erase Russia's crimes & force the victim to compromise.
And many say: Witkoff & Trump are businessmen, they just want a deal.
But that deal with Russia was done long ago, many times; now Witkoff & Trump are doing their part of it: appeasing Moscow, pressuring Ukraine, undermining sanctions, forcing a deal ... and declaring it “peace.”
But that deal with Russia was done long ago, many times; now Witkoff & Trump are doing their part of it: appeasing Moscow, pressuring Ukraine, undermining sanctions, forcing a deal ... and declaring it “peace.”
WITKOFF MADE HIS CAREER in a world where Russian money laundering was normalised, with Russian crime lords depicted as “investors,” “partners,” or “buyers.” This is the world that Manafort monetised, Trump depended on & Russian intelligence used as cover.
They didn’t exit that world, they brought it in.
Witkoff operates with zero scrutiny, because he’s framed as a “businessman” instead of a geopolitical actor. But he is shaping US posture toward Russia, the U.S stance on war crimes, the direction of NATO policy, and Ukraine's future security.
Off the books, next to russia.
Witkoff is all but openly declaring that the U.S. now advocates for Russia. It’s not concealed. It’s directly hostile to Ukraine & EU security.
That’s the man who is tasked to sit with Russia to “negotiate” Ukraine —without Ukraine even at the table.
The pressure, demands & ultimatum all fall on Ukraine.
They didn’t exit that world, they brought it in.
Witkoff operates with zero scrutiny, because he’s framed as a “businessman” instead of a geopolitical actor. But he is shaping US posture toward Russia, the U.S stance on war crimes, the direction of NATO policy, and Ukraine's future security.
Off the books, next to russia.
Witkoff is all but openly declaring that the U.S. now advocates for Russia. It’s not concealed. It’s directly hostile to Ukraine & EU security.
That’s the man who is tasked to sit with Russia to “negotiate” Ukraine —without Ukraine even at the table.
The pressure, demands & ultimatum all fall on Ukraine.
Yet Witkoff is a Russian echo chamber: “Ukraine should give up land”; “Ukraine can’t win”; “Peace requires Ukrainian concessions.”
These are not “opinions.”
These are not “opinions.”
These are Kremlin foreign-policy objectives. And Witkoff has publicly stated this long before his current position.
The pattern is clear:
1990s: Russian capital enters NYC real estate, money on which both Trump & Witkoff thriveThe “Russia hoax"-is far from a hoax. It’s misunderstood.
2016; Russia uses these lines for political access
2024 : Witkoff re-emerges as Trump’s Russia whisperer
2025: A new Kremlin-shaped “peace plan” is born
Are they russian agents? Probably not. Are they useful idiots, vessels for Russian policies with a history in the network. 100%!
They are men whose worldview, networks & financing were shaped inside a system of russian influence.
They are men whose worldview, networks & financing were shaped inside a system of russian influence.
The question isn’t “Is he compromised?” The question is:
Why is US policy on Russia being shaped by someone whose entire worldview was formed in the one American industry that Russian intelligence spent decades infiltrating?Ask instead: why is there so much willingness to ignore that?
2 comments:
Your TDS is fairly severe.
From Grok
Steven Witkoff’s grandparents, of Russian Jewish descent, likely immigrated to the United States during the late 19th or early 20th century, as this aligns with the mass migration of Eastern European Jews from Russia between 1880 and 1920. Over two million Jews fled Russia during this period, driven by pogroms, economic hardship, and discriminatory policies in the Pale of Settlement. The exact year of their immigration is not publicly documented, but the peak years of this wave, particularly after the 1881 pogroms and during the early 1900s, are the most probable timeframe.
@PhilS: Not sure of the immediate relevance of Witkoff's whakapapa to evidence of his corruption.
Call it WDS or anything you like, however.
Because I also agree with Michael McFaul about two troubling reports Witkoff. "First, in an interview with Tucker Carlson, Witkoff said that he “liked” Putin and that he didn’t think he was “a bad guy”. Putin launched Europe’s largest war since WWII, his drones indiscriminately kill Ukrainian civilians, and he murders political opponents. He is a bad guy.
Second, there was a report by Bloomberg that alleged Mr. Witkoff had advised Putin on how deal with Trump to get him on side. What?! I never encountered anything like this when serving in President Barack Obama’s administration. It is the job of members of government to advise their own president, not the president of another country – let alone an imperialist dictator like Vladimir Putin..."
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