U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East on ceasefire entering a crucial phase and efforts to end Russia-Ukraine War

(CBS, KYMA/KECY) - Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, spoke with Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation Sunday about the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas entering a crucial phase.

According to Brennan, Witkoff will head to the Middle East this week "to work on a hostage deal," and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "changed his negotiating team," prompting her to ask Witkoff if we will get to phase two of the hostage deal and if Edan Alexander, an American citizen, will be released "anytime soon," to which Witkoff said:

"[We will get to phase two], and I'm very focused on that, and I think it's going to happen. I'm going there probably Wednesday evening. I'll spend five days there as soon as I arrive, making- going to various countries, including Qatar, Egypt, Israel, UAE and Saudi Arabia. And as to Edan Alexander, he's front and center for us. I know his parents. We talk all the time. He's critical. It's one of President Trump's most important objectives is to get all Americans home. And we're going to be successful in getting Edan home, I believe."

Brennan followed up by asking what comes next for Gaza, and if Hamas leaders need to leave Gaza, and Witkoff said:

"The May 27 protocol agreement, signed last May 27, sets forth that the phase two negotiation is much about two things: A permanent ceasefire, a cessation of all violence. And, in addition to that, the fact that Hamas cannot be allowed to come back into the government. And I think the way you square that circle is that Hamas has to go. They've got to leave...and we;re going to...the negotiation will be around that."

When asked where they would go and if any country offered to take them in, Witkoff said, "I think the devil is in the details, and we've had a lot of discussions around it. I'm not at liberty to have...that specific discussion today, but we've got some ideas, and that will be part of the negotiation."

Brennan then followed up about whether the Trump administration supports Palestinians' rights to return, and Witkoff responded saying, "I'm not sure that anyone has a problem with people returning. We've had these discussions around that. I just think the fundamental issue today is how we get phase two done and then develop a reconstruction plan for Gaza. And for that, you've got to have a real set of facts, and we've been operating prior to the Trump administration coming in under facts that are just not accurate."

During the interview, Brennan and Witkoff talked about the Trump administration's efforts to make a deal to end the war in Ukraine.

"What everybody wants...would be a temporary ceasefire. But, the long term goal would be an end to this- that we've had...close to a million and a half deaths. And so, [President Trump's agenda] is to end this carnage. It just didn't...it didn't need to happen, and it doesn't need to continue. Not, you know, another day. So we're on it at his direction. And I think there is...you're going to see some real positive developments in the near term future."

Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East

Brennan reported that Witkoff was sent to Russia to speak with Vladimir Putin, and they spoke for 3.5 hours, "developing a friendship and a relationship with Putin," and that's how [he] helped bring U.S. citizen Marc Fogel home." This prompted Brennan to ask Witkoff what happened in the meeting, and Witkoff shared:

"There was a translator. In fact, there were two translators. And...to me, the assignment was trust building and speaking...on behalf of my boss, the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. And I had no expectation as to how long the meeting was going to last. I was intent on carrying a message from the President to President Putin. I had been advised that that President Putin had something for me to transmit back to the President. And the meeting ended, I looked at my watch, and it was close to three and a half hours that we were in there and hopefully that that suggests that a lot of good things got accomplished. I think that President Trump believes, and I believe because he believes it, that trust building begins with good, proper communication. And...we just had a great discussion being President Putin, and now it will be up to President Putin and President Trump to work something out. And I think they're going to be successful."

To watch more of Brennan's interview with Wikoff, click here.