Trump Envoy Steve Witkoff Gives Putin Glowing Thanks and Calls Moscow Meet ‘Right at the Top’ of List of ‘Incredible Memories’

(Photo Via: Kremlin.Ru)
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff appeared to offer Russian dictator Vladimir Putin glowing thanks during a Saturday meeting in Moscow as he and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, tried to restart the peace process with Ukraine.
Witkoff, 69, and Kushner, 45, can be seen sitting across from the ex-KGB officer and Russian leader at a large table in an opulent room in video released by the Kremlin.
During the more than seven minute clip, Witkoff appeared to happily thank Putin — known for his decades-long iron grip on Russia which has seen a number of his opponents meet mysterious and violent ends — for the chance to be there.
“So first of all President Putin thank you so much for having us. We were sitting outside just now… and we were all talking about when we retire, we’ll have all these incredible stories and incredible memories, and yours will be right at the top of it all,” Wiktoff told Putin via a translator.
Putin responded by saying, “thank you very much,” according to the official Kremlin transcript.
The warm introduction came at the start of what is expected to be a multi-day trip for Witkoff and Kushner as they attempt to hammer out a deal to end the war in Ukraine, which is now in its fifth year. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The conflict has led to more than two million casualties on both sides, according to analysts.
The United Nations accused Russia of crimes against humanity for the reported abduction of Ukrainian children. First Lady Melania Trump has helped bring 30 Ukrainian kids back to their families.
Kushner and Witkoff, who according to reports met with Putin for about three hours, were President Donald Trump’s go-to guys when it came to striking a deal between Israel and Hamas last year, and he is now banking on the combo to help bring the Ukraine-Russia War to a close.
Witkoff made sure to tell Putin that Trump sent his “best wishes” to the Russian leader.
He also said offered gratitude from the family of U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, who was thrown in a Russian prison after he allegedly beat a Russian police officer on a train. Gilman was released in August after four years in custody.
The “Gilman family is incredibly indebted to you and thanks you very, very much” Witkoff told Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a ceasefire Saturday to accommodate Witkoff and Kushner’s visit, pledging to “ensure the normal functioning of Russian airspace so that the negotiators can arrive safely. We are looking out for them, not for Russia.”
Putin eventually followed suit later in the day, announcing a three-day halt on strikes against Kyiv, which Witkoff and Kushner will be visiting on Sunday for the first time.
“Putin has ordered that no strikes be carried out against Kyiv for three days, starting at midnight today,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, confirming the reported ceasefire.
Shortly before Putin agreed to the temporary ceasefire, Zelensky insisted Russia intentionally targeted airports in Kyiv and Boryspil,
“Deliberately, for the first time in a long while,” Zelensky said of the strikes, according to Kyiv Independent.
Peskov tried to tamp down hope of a resolution to the war, telling reporters there was “no talk of new ideas” to end the conflict.
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