Trump Defends Witkoff After Leak Coaching Kremlin on Ukraine/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump backed his envoy Steve Witkoff after leaked transcripts revealed he advised senior Russian officials on how to present a Ukraine peace plan to Trump. The revelation sparked outrage among U.S. lawmakers and European allies, who say the plan favors Russia. Trump called Witkoff’s approach “standard negotiation,” as high-stakes talks continue globally.
Trump-Backed Ukraine Deal Quick Looks
- Trump defends envoy Steve Witkoff over leaked Kremlin call
- Witkoff advised top Putin aide on Ukraine peace pitch
- Suggested Putin flatter Trump over Gaza ceasefire success
- Proposed a 20-point Trump peace plan for Ukraine
- Call leaked as global talks on Ukraine intensify
- Witkoff’s plan reportedly favored Russian territorial demands
- European allies alarmed by pro-Russia tilt in leaked proposal
- Trump says strategy reflects dealmaking, not bias
- Army Secretary sent to Ukraine to present U.S. revisions
- Kremlin aide denies leaking calls, says leaks harm diplomacy
Deep Look: Trump Backs Envoy Who Coached Putin Adviser on Ukraine Peace Deal
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his special envoy Steve Witkoff after a leaked transcript revealed the businessman-turned-diplomat advised a senior Kremlin official on how to pitch a Ukraine peace plan to the U.S. president — a move that has alarmed Ukraine’s allies and U.S. lawmakers.
The transcript, obtained and published by Bloomberg, shows that Witkoff coached Yuri Ushakov, a longtime foreign policy adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, during an October 14 call. Witkoff encouraged Ushakov to praise Trump for his success in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and to frame Putin as a supporter of peace.
“Congratulate the president… tell him you supported the Gaza deal… say he’s a man of peace,” Witkoff advised, adding that doing so would create “a really good call.”
Trump, asked about the leaked conversation while aboard Air Force One, dismissed the concerns and called the maneuver “standard negotiation.”
“He’s got to sell this to Ukraine. He’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia. That’s what a dealmaker does,” Trump said, defending Witkoff’s approach.
Leaks Spark Firestorm as Peace Talks Accelerate
The revelation comes amid sensitive, multi-country negotiations over ending Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine. Talks involving the U.S., Ukraine, Russia, and European stakeholders are currently taking place across Switzerland, Angola, and the UAE.
In another leaked call dated October 29, Ushakov and Kremlin adviser Kirill Dmitriev discussed the strategy of slipping a Russian-friendly version of the peace deal to Washington informally — with Dmitriev proposing to pass the document along as a “U.S.-made” plan, despite it being drafted in Moscow.
“We’ll just make this paper from our position and let them do their own,” Dmitriev told Ushakov, hoping to create a proposal “as close” to Russia’s as possible.
This version of the peace plan, later revealed to be a 28-point proposal, was heavily criticized for favoring Moscow. The plan reportedly included:
- Ukraine ceding the entire Donbas region
- A cap on the Ukrainian military’s size
- Guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO
Backlash from Allies and Capitol Hill
European diplomats were “infuriated” by the content of the leaked plan and the Kremlin-friendly tone adopted by Witkoff in his discussions. In response, American and European officials collaborated on a revised 19-point plan, stripping the most controversial provisions and rebalancing the terms to better reflect Ukraine’s interests.
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was dispatched to Abu Dhabi to deliver the updated plan directly to Ukrainian officials. Simultaneously, Witkoff is expected to meet with Putin again — fueling further criticism of his impartiality.
Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska condemned Witkoff’s actions, saying:
“He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations… Would a Russian paid agent do less than he?”
Despite bipartisan skepticism, White House officials maintain that Witkoff’s near-daily contact with Russian and Ukrainian counterparts is part of a broad peace initiative led by Trump.
“This story proves one thing: Special Envoy Witkoff talks to officials in both Russia and Ukraine nearly every day to achieve peace,” said White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.
Trump’s Gaza Momentum and Global Strategy
The leaked call took place just after Trump visited Israel and Egypt to celebrate the Gaza ceasefire — a diplomatic win he believes enhances his global peace credentials. Witkoff referenced this during his call with Ushakov, suggesting that a similar “20-point Trump peace plan” for Ukraine could mirror the Gaza strategy.
“If we can get the Russia-Ukraine thing solved, everybody’ll be jumping for joy,” Witkoff said.
The same week, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, telling reporters afterward that Ukraine and Russia should “stop where they are” on the battlefield — signaling his openness to freezing the conflict and potentially recognizing Russia’s territorial gains.
Secret Meetings, Global Impact
According to reports, Dmitriev met privately with Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Florida to develop the original peace framework. The secrecy and pro-Russian leanings of the plan prompted swift pushback from both political parties and European allies.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has since clarified that the U.S. proposal was developed with “input from both sides,” but stressed that the final version represented American leadership — not a Russian wishlist.
Meanwhile, Dmitriev dismissed the leak as “fake,” accusing “warmongers” of undermining peace.
Moscow Reacts to the Leak
In an interview with Russian media, Ushakov did not deny the authenticity of the call but suggested the leaks were politically motivated.
“This is not about improving U.S.-Russia ties,” he said, claiming that Moscow had not released the recordings. “It’s likely designed to damage diplomacy.”
Dmitriev, meanwhile, posted on social media that the transcript was “fake” and accused unnamed “warmongers” of trying to derail peace efforts.
Despite the denials, another transcript reviewed by Bloomberg captured Ushakov and Dmitriev discussing how to subtly push a Russian-favorable plan while letting Americans believe it was their own idea:
“Let them do their own version. But we’ll make sure it’s as close as possible to ours,” Dmitriev said.
Looking Ahead: Trump Eyes Putin-Zelenskyy Summit
As global discussions over the future of Ukraine continue in Switzerland, Angola, and the UAE, Trump told reporters that he may personally meet with both Putin and Zelenskyy — but only if the negotiations make tangible progress.
“We’re getting close,” he said. “If we can do what we did in Gaza, we can do it here too.”
While the diplomatic effort has drawn both praise and criticism, one thing is certain: Trump’s unconventional approach to peace talks — including backchannel diplomacy and personal engagement — has reshaped how Ukraine, Russia, and the world view a potential end to the war.
What’s Next?
President Trump said Tuesday he could meet with both Putin and Zelenskyy, but only if real progress is made. With Witkoff still at the center of U.S.-Russia discussions, and Army Secretary Driscoll spearheading talks with Kyiv, the path to peace remains precarious — and controversial.
As negotiations unfold, one thing is clear: Trump’s backchannel diplomacy has reshaped the Ukraine peace conversation, but not without diplomatic costs.
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