Putin Stands by Trump's Envoy Amidst Bias Claims

Steve Witkoff, the U. S. special envoy, is under fire for allegedly leaning too much towards Russia. But Vladimir Putin isn't having it. He thinks Witkoff is just doing his job, representing his country and leader. Putin's defense came after a leaked call between Witkoff and a Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, sparked criticism. Putin, who was on a state visit to Kyrgyzstan, pointed out that Witkoff is in Moscow on Trump's orders. So, it's no surprise that he's not bad-mouthing Russia in private chats. Putin even joked that the talks have been civil, with no cursing or spitting, just like intelligent people would do. The controversy started when the Trump administration proposed a peace plan for Ukraine that seemed too friendly to Russia. This plan caused quite a stir, with Ukrainian and European officials scrambling to make changes. Putin admitted that some parts of the plan are okay, but others need more discussion. One of the sticking points is the recognition of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk as Russian territory. Putin wants full control of these areas, which he illegally annexed in 2014. He also has other demands, like a ban on NATO membership for Ukraine and protection for the Russian language and Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Putin thinks the leak of the Witkoff-Ushakov call is part of a bigger issue. He believes there's tension within the Western establishment about how to handle peace talks with Russia. He was also surprised by the Trump administration's sudden sanctions on two Russian oil giants, saying he didn't understand the move.