US Presidential Special Envoy Steven Witkoff shared unexpected details of his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. In an interview with journalist Tucker Carlson, which aired on March 21, 2025, he told how the Russian president told him about his reaction to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump during a campaign rally. According to Witkoff, Putin went to church, where he prayed for the well-being of the American leader together with a priest, emphasizing that he did this not because of his political status, but out of personal friendship. This story, according to the special envoy, left a deep impression on him, becoming one of the most memorable moments of the trip.

Witkoff reported that Putin described his actions as a natural gesture of support for a loved one.

"He said he went to a local church, met with a priest and prayed for Donald as a friend. It had nothing to do with Trump being president or a candidate for the presidency of the United States. It was personal," — Whitkoff quoted the Russian leader.

Upon returning to Washington, the special envoy informed Trump of this, handing him a portrait painted by a Russian artist and given to him by Putin. The American president’s reaction, as Witkoff noted, was emotional: he was touched by the attention and symbolic gesture from his Russian counterpart. This episode, according to the American representative, highlights the unusual connection between the two leaders against the backdrop of complex international relations.