Rep. Seth Moulton has labeled Steve Witkoff’s praise for Putin and assertions about Ukrainian territories as 'insane,' just days before U.S. talks to end the war are set to resume—talk about bad timing.

Moulton's sharp rebuke of Witkoff, who referred to Putin as a 'super smart guy' and suggested that Russia had valid claims to occupied Ukrainian regions, underscores a controversial pivot in U.S. policy just as peace talks are on the horizon. With Witkoff seemingly negotiating for the Kremlin while damaging American diplomacy, one has to wonder if he sent the invite to the peace talks via a telegram addressed to Putin himself.

In a remarkable display of political misjudgment, Witkoff, a Trump envoy, seems to have taken cues from a different playbook than most of his compatriots. His comments came at a time when various stakeholders in the U.S. were trying to position themselves for impending discussions about the conflict in Ukraine. Perhaps he thought he was auditioning for a role in a sitcom titled 'How to Lose Friends and Alienate Countries.'

Moulton didn't mince words, declaring Witkoff's remarks as a monumental shift in U.S. policy. The alarming connection here implies that praise for Putin and endorsement of his territorial claims is not exactly the diplomatic high ground. For those keeping score, that’s one point for Witkoff in favor of Russia, and zero for the concept of helping the country that has been trying to stave off invasion and aggressions.

Witkoff's suggestion that territories like Donetsk and Luhansk belong to Russia is like claiming that a pizza taken from a table during a party became the property of the person who swiped it. One could almost hear Moulton’s brain buzzing as he reconciled the cherry-picking of international law with Witkoff’s snack-at-the-table logic.

Further complicating matters, it’s been reported that Witkoff presented the White House with a portrait of Donald Trump done by Putin himself. This raises pressing questions: is it a gift or an elaborate warning? The thought of a charismatic autocrat sketching out an image for the former president while the U.S. manages diplomatic relations was hardly what most would call normal.

Critics, including Moulton, argue that Witkoff’s comments give the appearance of negotiating for the 'other side.' This would be a dramatic turn of events from the historical narrative of U.S. presidents standing firmly against foreign aggressors. It’s almost as if Witkoff stepped into a time machine, mistakenly thinking that the 1980s would offer him better advice than contemporary foreign policy experts.

And let's not forget the timeline of events. Just before these incendiary comments were made, Trump, after a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, opted to cut off U.S. aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Surely, this was bad enough on its own, but either the former president and his confederates are exceptionally bad at reading the room or perhaps they're just unusually optimistic about how history could rewrite itself.

Now, juxtaposing Witkoff's commentary with Biden's approach to directly ostracizing Putin makes for interesting political theater. While Biden is positioning himself like a wary chess player, Witkoff's remarks about taking Putin 'at his word' and praising him as a 'super smart guy' signal a more conciliatory stance. One wonders if Witkoff is aware that 'The Kremlin Files' isn’t a comedy series.

As the upcoming peace talks loom, various U.S. officials, Democrats, and people with a healthy sense of skepticism are likely stocking up on popcorn, waiting to see just how many more plot twists the Witkoff saga will deliver. If there's one thing this situation proves, it’s that when discussing foreign policy and territorial claims, it’s important to remember the difference between supporting negotiation and making unsolicited invitations to parties that haven’t been summoned.

Ultimately, as differing views clash over the handling of Ukraine, the looming question remains: who will take the stage next in this unfolding drama? As various actors posture, the world can safely assume there will be no shortage of comedic material inspired by unfolding events and their baffling interpretations. For now, if Witkoff is looking for a hand, it might be worth reminding him that he has recently faced criticism, as Rep. Seth Moulton called his comments on Ukraine 'insane' and accused him of 'negotiating for the other side.' Witkoff has also implied that Russia has a legitimate claim to territories seized during the invasion, which Moulton highlighted as a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Russia.