US Mideast envoy delays trip to the region, reportedly due to US focus on ending Russia-Ukraine war

By Lazar Berman

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25 February 2025, 6:32 pm

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Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, arrives for a press conference with the US president and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, on February 4, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)

US special envoy Steve Witkoff will not be coming to the region tomorrow, according to the Ynet news site.

Axios reports that Witkoff is delaying the trip to focus on US-led efforts to find a negotiated end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

No new date has been given for the visit.

Witkoff had said on Sunday morning news shows that he could be coming to the region Wednesday to talk about extending the first phase of the deal between Israel and Hamas, and to discuss a second phase.

Witkoff met with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Washington in recent days to discuss the talks.