UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s ambitious plan to deploy peacekeeping forces in Ukraine has been criticized by U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy.
While Starmer claims that over 30 countries support his “coalition of the willing,” he insists that any military deployment requires a U.S. security guarantee—something the White House has yet to approve.
Trump’s team has made it clear they do not back the initiative either.
Trump’s Envoy Calls Starmer’s Plan ‘Simplistic’
Speaking to pro-Trump journalist Tucker Carlson, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff dismissed Starmer’s proposal, calling it “a posture,” “a pose,” and “simplistic.”
He ridiculed the notion that Russia poses a similar threat to Europe as Nazi Germany once did, saying, “There is this sort of notion that we have all got to be like [British wartime Prime Minister] Winston Churchill. Russians are going to march across Europe.
“That is preposterous, by the way. We have something called NATO that we did not have in World War Two.”
Witkoff’s comments come just days after a Russian official dismissed Starmer’s proposal as a “bluff,” adding further scepticism to the UK’s stance on a potential ceasefire agreement.
Missteps and Praise for Putin Raise Eyebrows
During the interview, Witkoff struggled to name the five Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia, incorrectly referring to them as “so-called four regions.”
Russia has, in fact, claimed sovereignty over Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea—though some areas remain only partially occupied.
He further echoed Russian narratives, stating, “The Russians are de facto in control of these territories,” and questioned whether the world would acknowledge them as part of Russia.
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Witkoff went on to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing him as “super smart,” “gracious,” and “straight up” in negotiations. He even revealed that Putin had commissioned a portrait of Trump as a gift, which reportedly pleased the U.S. president.
Despite Witkoff’s criticism, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves remained resolute, telling the BBC that she is “not put off” by his remarks.
She emphasized that Starmer’s diplomatic efforts are already yielding results, uniting European and global leaders in pursuit of a “just and lasting peace.”
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