Vice President J.D. Vance came to the defense of special envoy Steve Witkoff after Witkoff made controversial comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin during an interview with Tucker Carlson. Witkoff stated that he does not view Putin as a "bad guy" and described the Russian leader as "super smart." These remarks sparked significant backlash from pro-Ukraine officials, including Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts, who labeled Witkoff’s statements as "insane."
In response to the criticism, Vance took to social media to support Witkoff, praising him for his work. Vance emphasized that Witkoff is doing an incredible job, suggesting that those criticizing him are frustrated by his success in diplomacy, where others have failed for decades. He tweeted that effective diplomacy often requires a straightforward approach: "don’t be an idiot."
Witkoff’s comments come at a time when the Trump administration is feeling disheartened by the results of recent negotiations regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. The administration had hoped that a recent call between President Donald Trump and Putin would lead to a ceasefire agreement. However, Putin only agreed to a limited "infrastructure ceasefire," which fell short of broader expectations.
The situation highlights the challenges facing U.S. diplomacy as it navigates the complexities of international relations, particularly with Russia. As tensions continue, the effectiveness of Witkoff’s approach and the administration’s overall strategy will be closely scrutinized.