The following is the transcript of an interview with Steve Witkoff, President Trump's Middle East special envoy, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Feb. 23, 2025.

U.S. sees President Vladimir Putin as a "great competitor" and "adversary" as it works to secure a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff explained Sunday to CNN’s Jake Tapper how President Donald Trump is working to end the Ukraine-Russia war after Tapper questioned Russia’s view of the president.

The meeting is meant to pave the way for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Before Trump returned to the White House, Witkoff was his political adviser, fundraiser and golfing buddy. In testimony at Trump’s 2023 New York civil fraud trial, Witkoff said the pair’s friendship began in 1986 when he bought Trump a sandwich at a deli after Trump forgot his wallet.

WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS: When US President Donald Trump wanted someone to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin last week to open negotiations ... golf buddy and billionaire real estate developer Steve Witkoff. The president has made Witkoff his Middle East ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "little bit scared ... Advisor Michael Waltz and special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff to lead negotiations with Russia and Ukraine.

When Oakmont teacher Marc Fogel returned to the United States yesterday after three and a half years’ imprisonment in Russia, he was accompanied by a figure many don’t know much about — Trump envoy Steve Witkoff.