Trump’s Real Estate Dealmaker Now Solving Global Crises
When Donald Trump needed someone to negotiate with Vladimir Putin over the Russia-Ukraine war, he didn’t send a career diplomat—he sent Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer and longtime friend.
Who Is Steve Witkoff?
Witkoff, 67, is a New York-born billionaire with deep ties to Trump’s business and political circles. Though he lacks formal diplomatic experience, he is now Trump’s Middle East envoy and a key player in high-stakes global negotiations.
“The president sees Steve as one of the world’s great dealmakers,” a White House official told Axios.
Witkoff has been involved in:
- The Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations
- The US-Russia prisoner swap
- Upcoming Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia
Negotiating with Putin
Last week, Witkoff met Putin for three hours in Moscow, discussing a potential resolution to the Ukraine conflict. His unconventional diplomacy has raised concerns among Western allies, as Ukraine was not invited to the upcoming US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia.
“Steve will be an unrelenting voice for PEACE,” Trump wrote when announcing Witkoff’s appointment.
Middle East Role and Iran Talks
Witkoff is also leading US efforts in the Middle East, including:
- Negotiating with Iran on a potential nuclear deal
- Brokering regional peace agreements
- Managing US-Israel relations
His diplomacy began before he was even officially in his role, flying to Tel Aviv to meet with Netanyahu and later working with Biden’s envoy Brett McGurk in Doha.
A New World Order?
Trump’s reliance on non-traditional envoys like Witkoff signals a shift in US foreign policy, bypassing traditional diplomatic channels. Critics fear that key US allies are being left out of crucial discussions.
For more political insights, visit Kenkou Land.
