Donald Trump criticized a news organization for being ‘sick degenerates’ following the release of a shocking story involving Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The president expressed his disapproval towards Sky News on Truth Social on Saturday after the media outlet alleged that Putin had made Witkoff wait for several hours before their meeting on Thursday to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Witkoff departed from Russia on Friday without reaching an agreement on the ceasefire that Ukraine had agreed to. According to Sky News’ Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennet, their conversation seemed to be a typical display of power by Putin.
‘But after arriving around lunchtime on Thursday, he was left twiddling his thumbs for at least eight hours before being called into the Kremlin,’ the article read, adding that the Russian leader ‘was apparently too busy meeting someone else’ that day – Belarusian leader Aleksander Lukashenko.
‘We don’t know for sure if the timing of Mr Lukashenko’s visit was deliberate, but it certainly didn’t feel like a coincidence.
‘Instead, it felt like a classic Putin power play,’ the outlet added.
Trump quickly disputed the report and labeled it ‘fake news,’ stating that ‘there was no wait whatsoever’ that day.
‘The Fake News, as usual, is at it again! Why can’t they be honest, just for once? Last night I read that President Vladimir Putin of Russia kept my Highly Respected Ambassador and Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, waiting for over nine hours when, in fact, there was no wait whatsoever,’ the president posted.
President Donald Trump (pictured Friday) blasted Sky News after the outlet claimed that Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, waited for hours to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to discuss the ongoing war with Ukraine
The president called the outlet ‘sick degenerates’ who report ‘fake news’ in a post to Truth Social on Saturday
Sky News’ Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennet (pictured) said Witkoff ‘was left twiddling his thumbs for at least eight hours before being called into the Kremlin’
‘Other meetings with other Representatives of Russia did take place and, obviously, they took some time, but they were very productive. From there, things went quickly and efficiently, and all signs seem to be, hopefully, very good!
‘In conclusion, there was no nine hour wait, or any wait at all! The only reason they made up that story is to try and DEMEAN, because they are sick degenerates, that have to start reporting the News correctly.’
He added: ‘This is why they have lost their ratings, their audience, and respect. Thank you for your attention to this matter and, GOD BLESS AMERICA!’
Despite Trump’s claims that Witkoff didn’t wait at all, Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett said that the decision to do so was a clear signal from the Kremlin about who ‘sets the schedule.’
The Kremlin’s spokesman Dimitry Peskov said Putin gave Witkoff ‘information and additional signals’ for the US President during their meeting.
Putin told reporters on Thursday he would have a phone call with President Trump to discuss a ceasefire. Trump has also said he would ‘love’ to meet and talk to the Russian president.
‘There are certainly some grounds for cautious optimism,’ Peskov added of the ceasefire proposal.
‘A lot still needs to be done, but the president has shown solidarity with President Trump’s position.’
Witkoff told CNN Sunday that Trump and Putin are likely to speak this week.
The outlet said that the Russian leader (pictured Friday) allegedly made Witkoff wait as part of ‘a classic Putin power play’
Witkoff left Russia on Friday without a deal on the ceasefire Ukraine has agreed to. (Pictured: Witkoff leaving Moscow shortly after the meeting)
The Russian president added that any truce must lead to ‘long term peace’ but noted that issues remained including the development of a mechanism to control possible breaches of the ceasefire and the possibility that Ukraine could use the 30-day pause to rearm and continue to mobilize.
He said: ‘We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace and remove the root causes of the crisis.’
Analysts have warned the Russian leader will likely be reluctant to rush into a ceasefire while his troops have momentum on the battlefield and he feels he has an advantage.
Ukraine has already endorsed President Trump’s proposals under severe pressure.
The US leader briefly suspended critical military aid and intelligence sharing in an apparent effort to push Kyiv into entering talks on ending the war.
On March 3 he lifted the ban after US and Ukrainian officials reported progress during talks in Saudi Arabia.
Despite labeling the situation a ‘real mess’, Trump said on Friday that many more people would be ‘needlessly dead’ if Ukraine and Russia failed to agree on a ceasefire deal.
He wrote on his Truth Social platform: ‘Millions of people are needlessly dead, never to be seen again…and there will be many more to follow if we don’t get the Cease Fire and Final Agreement with Russia completed and signed.’
The Kremlin’s spokesman Dimitry Peskov said Putin gave Witkoff (pictured February 18)’information and additional signals’ for the US President during their meeting
The US President also directly called on Putin to spare Ukrainian troops he said were ‘surrounded’ in the Kursk region, which Russia has retaken after it was seized by Kyiv last August.
‘I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!’, he said.
An estimated 500,000 people have died since Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago.
Trump has also threatened to cripple Russia’s economy with sanctions if it doesn’t agree to a deal to end the fighting.
However Putin has demanded a wide range of concessions before committing, including for Russia to control territory it has captured thus far and for Ukraine to abandon any plans to join NATO.
His conditions also include the easing of western sanctions on Russia and for elections to be held in Ukraine – a demand Kyiv says is impossible to fulfill while martial law is in force.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Putin’s response ‘highly predictable’ and ‘manipulative words’ aimed at dragging out the process by setting unworkable conditions.
