Gershkovich says Putin is pursuing his own terms, not a deal

Summary

Wall Street Journal foreign correspondent Evan Gershkovich told Bloomberg This Weekend that he questions whether the Trump administration fully understands Vladimir Putin's negotiating tactics, after US envoy Steve Witkoff praised the Russian president as a "humanitarian" following the release of Stephen Hubbard. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Gershkovich drew on years of covering Putin and his own 16 months in Russian custody to argue that the Russian leader remains focused on securing his demands for Ukraine rather than compromising in negotiations.

Timeline

1. Bloomberg

   24 Oct 2026, 11:54 UTCSource ↗

   Bloomberg reports that Evan Gershkovich argues Putin is holding out for his own demands on Ukraine rather than compromising, and questions whether the Trump administration understands his tactics after Witkoff praised him as a "humanitarian".