MPs outrage over out of his depth Donald Trump envoy who regurgitates Putin propaganda about Ukraine - as Brit politicians brand him a disgrace

Donald Trumps special envoy has been accused of regurgitating Kremlin propaganda and told to apologise to Ukraines people.

Steve Witkoff was labelled a disgrace and out of his depth over his comments about Ukraine giving up its territory.

Mr Witkoff, 68, a billionaire property developer with no diplomatic experience, has been representing the US in visits to Moscow as part of Mr Trumps efforts to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine.

In an interview with ex-Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, Mr Witkoff floundered trying to name the Russian-occupied districts of Ukraine – Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk.

He also said the regions were Russian-speaking and that there have been referendums where the majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule. 

His comment refers to Kremlin-organised votes six months after Russias invasion in 2022, not recognised by Western countries and denounced as a sham.

Last night cross-party politicians responded with fury.

Labour MP Neil Coyle said: Many people in Florida and Texas speak Spanish but it would be idiotic and offensive to claim that they belong to Spain. Ukrainian territory belongs to the Ukrainian state alone.

Donald Trumps special envoy has been accused of regurgitating Kremlin propaganda and told to apologise to Ukraines people

Steve Witkoff (pictured) was labelled a disgrace and out of his depth over his comments about Ukraine giving up its territory

Mr Witkoff, 68, a billionaire property developer with no diplomatic experience, has been representing the US in visits to Moscow as part of Mr Trumps efforts to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine

Liberal Democrat Sarah Green, who is on the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine, said: Witkoff doesnt care about Ukraines sovereignty. Hes more comfortable repeating Putins propaganda than supporting Ukraines heroic fighters and civilians.

And Dr Bob Seely, a former Tory MP and author of an upcoming book on Russian warfare, said: Witkoff is very clearly out of his depth and breathtakingly ill-informed. He doesnt know the names of the areas that hes talking about.

Saying the Ukrainian people want to be part of Russia – it is an absolute disgrace.

He makes no mention or recognition of the fact that in territories occupied by Russia the treatment of the Ukrainian citizens, whatever language they speak, has been appalling. 

This man is simply regurgitating Kremlin propaganda. He should apologise to Ukrainians, and maybe talk to some Ukrainians who are dealing with the aftermath of the Russian invasion.

Liberal Democrat Sarah Green (pictured), who is on the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine, said: Witkoff doesnt care about Ukraines sovereignty. Hes more comfortable repeating Putins propaganda than supporting Ukraines heroic fighters and civilians

Mr Witkoff said of the Russia-controlled territory: The elephant in the room is there are constitutional issues in Ukraine as to what they can concede to, with regard to giving up territory. 

The Russians are de facto in control of these territories.

The question is, will the world acknowledge that those are Russian territories? Can Zelensky survive politically if he acknowledges this? 

He also appeared to mix up Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, with the Eastern territories of Ukraine occupied since the 2022 invasion.

Mr Witkoff, a friend of Mr Trumps, was appointed as Middle East envoy but has since visited Russia twice to negotiate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

In the interview he also praised the relationship between Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin. 

He said the Russian president had prayed for Mr Trump at a church in Moscow following the assassination attempt on him last July.

He also said Putin had presented him with a portrait of Mr Trump by a Russian artist, which Mr Witkoff then delivered to the US President.

Last week Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire after Mr Putin had rejected a 30-day full ceasefire

He was touched by it, he said. This is the kind of connection that weve been able to re-establish, through, by the way, a simple word called communication.

President Putin had commissioned a beautiful portrait of President Trump, from the leading Russian artist, and asked me to take it home to Mr Trump.

It was such a gracious moment, and [he] told me his story… about how when the President was shot, he went to his local church and met with his priest and prayed for the President.

Not because he was the President of the United [States]... but because he had a friendship and he was praying for his friend.

Dr Seely said: The Russian negotiating team is highly professional and their tactics are very aggressive and controlled.

But you have these hotshot property guys walking into a world they just dont understand.

Ukraine has been invaded twice, in 2014 and 2022. No one in the occupied regions was given a choice, just the military oppression of the Russian State.

Last week Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire after Mr Putin had rejected a 30-day full ceasefire.