President Donald Trump recently downplayed worries surrounding his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his interactions with the Kremlin. This comes after a newly released phone call transcript shed light on Witkoff's advice to Russian officials. The October 14 audio recording, reviewed and transcribed by Bloomberg, reveals Witkoff counseling top Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov on how Russian President Vladimir Putin should approach discussions with Trump.
The transcript provides critical insights into the behind-the-scenes negotiations that have produced a 28-point peace plan, which has been a focal point of discussions between the Trump administration, Russia, and Ukraine in recent days. “He’s gotta sell this to Ukraine, he’s gotta sell Ukraine to Russia. That’s what a deal maker does,” Trump stated to reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday evening when asked about the transcript. He further emphasized, “I haven’t heard it, but I heard it was standard negotiation. And I would imagine he’s saying the same thing to Ukraine, because each party has to give and take.”
The release of the transcript has raised concerns among some Republican lawmakers, particularly GOP Russia hawks on Capitol Hill. Representative Don Bacon has called for Witkoff to be dismissed, stating, “For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign & democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians. He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations.” Similarly, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick highlighted the situation as a “major problem,” insisting that “ridiculous side shows and secret meetings need to stop.”
When questioned about whether he was worried Witkoff was too “pro-Russian,” Trump acknowledged the ongoing conflict could “go on for years,” noting Russia's significant military presence. “So I think if Ukraine can make a deal, it’s a good thing,” he added, maintaining an optimistic outlook on the possibility of negotiations.
The Kremlin also weighed in on the leaked transcript. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov suggested that the leak was an attempt to undermine the ongoing negotiations. He stated, “If you look and read, if you abstract yourself from whether it is true or not, there is nothing so terrible there. And President Trump himself, by the way, also indirectly spoke out in defense of Witkoff.” Peskov characterized the content of the transcript as part of the “usual work” of a negotiator.
Ushakov expressed frustration over the leak, indicating that conversations with Witkoff were confidential. He remarked, “No one should disclose them. No one!” He also mentioned that while some communications occur over secure channels, others might happen via platforms like WhatsApp, raising concerns about potential eavesdropping.
Global affairs analyst Brett McGurk, who has held senior national security roles, speculated that the call may have been leaked by a foreign intelligence service. He noted the uncertainty surrounding the completeness of the transcript and suggested that negotiators might need to regroup, warning that the situation could deteriorate further.
According to the transcript, Witkoff advised Ushakov to prompt President Putin to congratulate Trump on achieving a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas during their upcoming conversation. This advice was indeed followed two days later, with Trump noting, “President Putin congratulated me and the United States on the Great Accomplishment of Peace in the Middle East.” Trump expressed his belief that this success could positively influence negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Witkoff also emphasized the importance of the two leaders speaking prior to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with Trump at the White House. Their conversation took place on October 16, and it significantly shifted Trump's tone towards Russia after weeks of frustration regarding the stalled negotiations. Following that call, Trump hosted Zelensky for a working lunch, which reportedly became tense as Trump insisted on Ukrainian territorial concessions to Russia.
Witkoff proposed a “20-point peace proposal” during his discussion with Ushakov, which later evolved into the current 28-point peace plan. This plan includes several concessions to Russia, such as Ukraine ceding territory, abandoning its NATO ambitions, and limiting its military size. After a series of high-level diplomatic talks in Geneva and Abu Dhabi, the parameters of the plan have continued to evolve. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the proposal as a “living, breathing document.”
Witkoff is anticipated to travel to Moscow for further negotiations as soon as next week, with Trump indicating that he might be accompanied by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Additionally, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to visit Kyiv later this week for peace discussions. While Trump expressed a willingness to meet with both Zelensky and Putin, he clarified that such a meeting would only occur once negotiations are in their final stages. “I don’t have a deadline – I just – you know what the deadline for me is? When it’s over,” he stated.
This story has been updated with additional information from multiple sources, including contributions from CNN's Clare Sebastian, Daria Tarasova-Markina, Caitlin Danaher, and Nina Subkhanberdina.