Trump’s Special Envoy Says He ‘Became Friends’ With Putin During Moscow Trip

Whitkoff said he spent a lot of time with Putin.

US President Donald Trump’s special representative for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said he had developed a “friendly relationship” with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin , Sky News reports .

It is noted that at an investment forum in Miami, organized by Saudi Arabia, Witkoff shared that last week he went to Moscow to secure the release of US citizen Mark Vogel.

“I spent a lot of time with Putin. Talking to him, developing friendships and relationships,” he said.

The publication emphasized that the secret trip to Moscow to bring the Pennsylvania teacher back to the United States is becoming a key moment in the dramatically changed dynamics of relations between the Trump administration and the Kremlin.

“First of all, I had the support of President Trump, and that’s very important. Secondly, we have a very good relationship with the Saudis. They assured us that this was real… So for me, that was the reason to make the trip. And we went. And it was a wonderful trip,” Witkoff added.

The role of the Saudi Arabian government is a reflection of Riyadh’s significant and growing geopolitical influence, the publication emphasized. The journalists recalled that the negotiations between the US and Russia took place shortly after Witkoff’s trip to Moscow.

(C)UNIAN 2025