The author of the Resurgam Telegram channel discussed the issue.The controversy erupted after Witkoff reportedly canceled a scheduled meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on December 2. The cancellation came shortly after Witkoff's extended talks in Moscow, where Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov claimed American negotiators had "promised not to speak with Ukrainians."Ukrainian analysts argue that Witkoff's behavior demonstrates a stark contrast in how he engages with Russian versus Ukrainian delegations. While the envoy traveled directly to Moscow and waited hours to meet with Putin, Ukraine's president adjusted his schedule between stops in Ireland and Belgium in hopes of securing face time with the American representative."This is humiliation and an attempt to reduce Ukraine's agency in the process to nothing," the Resurgam analysis states. The source notes that the Kremlin benefits from empowering Witkoff as a "quality" negotiator, while his compromised position regarding Ukrainian interests makes him an ineffective intermediary for Kyiv.The proposal to sideline Witkoff draws on precedent: the Kremlin itself previously refused to communicate with U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg. Ukrainian officials suggest taking a similar stance while emphasizing continued support for Trump's broader peace efforts—but opposition specifically to Witkoff as the intermediary.To minimize risks of antagonizing the incoming Trump administration, the strategy recommends having a Ukrainian official with state standing—rather than Zelenskyy directly—deliver the message. This approach would allow the president plausible deniability while signaling Ukraine's firm position.The analysis identifies several factors that could reduce political blowback: internal White House opposition to Witkoff, Trump's likely distraction with Venezuela policy, approaching 2026 midterm elections, and the $12 billion in annual U.S. weapons procurement contracts that make abandoning Ukraine economically unappealing."The value paradigm of the current U.S. administration is close to the Kremlin's: allow yourself to be humiliated once—it will be constant," the channel warns, arguing that Ukraine's dignity requires pushing back against diplomatic slights.