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A leaked call has revealed that White House Russia envoy Steve Witkoff coached the Kremlin on how to sell a Ukraine peace deal to Donald Trump.
Witkoff reportedly told Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov during a call on October 14 that Vladimir Putin should praise Trump on his Gaza peace plan.
The transcript of the roughly five-minute call, and another between Ushakov and Russian official Kirill Dmitriev, were published by Bloomberg.
- Leaked call reveals Steve Witkoff coached Russian adviser to praise Trump on his Gaza peace plan to gain support for a Ukraine deal.
- Witkoff urged arranging a Putin-Trump call before Zelenskyy's White House visit, suggesting flattery to win Trump's favor.
- Witkoff proposed a 20-point peace plan mirroring Gaza's approach, anticipating Ukraine would concede key points to Russia.
Steve Witkoff coached Yuri Ushakov during a call on October 14
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
As per the report, Witkoff said to Ushakov, “Well listen, I am going to tell you something. I think, I think if we can get the Russia-Ukraine thing solved, everybody’ll be jumping for joy.”
He then urged Ushakov to organize a call between Trump and Putin, advising that the latter flattered Trump on his efforts in Gaza in a bid to win him over.
Witkoff advised that this be done before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended a White House meeting with Trump just days later.
That meeting reportedly ended in a screaming match between Trump and Zelenskyy, who left the Oval Office without securing Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine.
“I would make the call and just reiterate that you congratulate the president on this achievement, that you supported it, you supported it, that you respect that he is a man of peace and you’re just, you’re really glad to have seen it happen,” Witkoff said.
Image credits: Contributor/Getty Images
“So I would say that. I think from that it’s going to be a really good call.”
According to the transcript, Ushakov approved of the approach, “OK, OK, my friend. I think that very point our leaders could discuss. Hey Steve, I agree with you that he will congratulate, he will say that Mr. Trump is a real peace man and so and so. That he will say.”
Witkoff added, “Because — let me tell you what I told the president. I told the president that you — that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal.
“That’s my belief. I told the president I believe that. And I believe the question is — the issue is, is that we have two nations that are having a hard time coming to a compromise and when we do, we’re going to have a peace deal.”
The American envoy went on to suggest that the Russians could set out a 20-point peace plan similar to the one approved in Gaza, while also indicating that Ukraine would make key concessions to Russia.
Image credits: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
After that call, Witkoff met with Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a close ally of Putin’s, in Miami in late October, accompanied by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as per Reuters.
Another leaked call published by Bloomberg revealed that Dmitriev and Ushakov discussed how to get the U.S. on side with a Russian proposal on October 29.
Partial readout released by Bloomberg of the leaked phone call last month between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, in which Witkoff attempts to coach the Kremlin on how to more easily coerce President… pic.twitter.com/45Wl6uF3Dx
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 26, 2025
“Well, we need the maximum, don’t you think? What do you think? Otherwise, what’s the point of passing anything on?” Ushakov asked, as per the translated transcript.
Dmitriev responded, “No, look. I think we’ll just make this paper from our position, and I’ll informally pass it along, making it clear that it’s all informal. And let them do like their own. But, I don’t think they’ll take exactly our version, but at least it’ll be as close to it as possible.”
A U.S.-backed peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is reportedly close
Image credits: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Following the reports, Trump moved to defend Witkoff’s tactics to reporters on Air Force One on Tuesday evening.
“That’s a standard thing. He’s gotta sell this to Ukraine, he’s gotta sell Ukraine to Russia. That’s what a dealmaker does […] 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,” Trump said.
Ushakov told a journalist for the Russia 1 channel that his conversations with Witkoff are confidential and he would not comment on them, Newsweek reported.
“I do not comment on it. And no one, no one should comment. Where do they even get such information from? Someone leaks it, someone eavesdrops,” he said.
Image credits: Contributor/Getty Images
It comes as a Russia-Ukraine peace deal is reportedly on the horizon.
Zelenskyy has said that Kyiv is ready to move forward with a U.S.-backed peace proposal, but only after sensitive points are ironed out.
He is hoping for an urgent meeting with Trump at the White House to discuss those outstanding issues and wants European allies included in negotiations.
Image credits: Mert Gokhankoc/ dia images via Getty Images
The plan began as a 28-point proposal but has since been significantly pared down after talks in Geneva, with Kyiv’s negotiating team saying many of the “right elements” have been introduced in the revised framework.
The original plan, developed closely with Witkoff and Dmitriev, had sparked outrage among Ukraine and its European allies.
It was seen as heavily favored towards Russia as it included key concessions of land and limits on Ukraine’s military, as well as a ban on the country joining NATO.
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Everyone knows there are two ways to kiss up to Trump: bootlick until your tongue is black, or stand up to him and don't give in, just like Mamdani showed people how to do. Trump is a cuck and a bully.
Everyone knows there are two ways to kiss up to Trump: bootlick until your tongue is black, or stand up to him and don't give in, just like Mamdani showed people how to do. Trump is a cuck and a bully.
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