Donald Trump has decided to stand by Steve Witkoff, his long-time friend and special envoy for peace missions, despite a recent report suggesting Witkoff coached an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin on how to engage with the U.S. president. Bloomberg News disclosed the contents of an October 14 phone conversation where Witkoff allegedly advised Yuri Ushakov to collaborate on a ceasefire strategy for Ukraine and recommended that Putin should discuss it with Trump.
This development for the White House follows a week of uncertainty and backlash over a proposed peace plan viewed by Ukraine’s allies. The leaked U.S.-led plan involved Ukraine limiting its military size and renouncing any intentions of joining NATO in the future, while Russia would gain additional territory beyond its current holdings following the invasion in February 2022.
Ushakov, speaking in Moscow, dismissed parts of the leaked information as “fake” without further details, emphasizing the confidentiality of the call. Ushakov expressed discontent over the leak, labeling it as unacceptable to disclose discussions on critical matters. House Republican Don Bacon called for Witkoff’s removal from the negotiation team following the Bloomberg report, accusing him of favoring Russia and being untrustworthy in leading the negotiations.
The White House did not challenge the authenticity of the transcript. Trump, en route to his Florida residence on Air Force One, defended Witkoff’s approach to the Russians as a standard negotiating tactic. Trump mentioned that Witkoff would soon meet with Putin, with the involvement of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who also played a role in brokering a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza conflict.
The Kremlin confirmed Witkoff’s upcoming visit to Moscow next week for discussions on the peace plan with Russian officials. Ushakov indicated plans to communicate with Witkoff regarding the leak before their meeting. The article has sparked inquiries about the administration’s alignment with the Kremlin, raising concerns about Trump’s past support for Putin over U.S. intelligence in his first term.
Witkoff, despite lacking diplomatic experience, was appointed as the White House’s special envoy for peace missions due to his longstanding relationship with Trump. He had been recognized for his efforts in facilitating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, but faced criticism for his diplomatic approach in the Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Last month, a meeting involving Witkoff, Kushner, and Kirill Dmitriev, a key figure in Russia, led to a 28-point peace plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Following the Bloomberg report, House Republican Brian Fitzpatrick questioned the absence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in leading diplomatic efforts, urging an end to secretive meetings. Ukraine and its allies are working to revise the peace plan, with hopes of progress despite uncertainties about Russia’s willingness to accommodate the proposed changes. European leaders, including Canada, participated in a virtual meeting to discuss the situation and potential resolutions.