A firestorm of controversy has erupted around U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff following the revelation of a leaked phone call. The recording appears to show Witkoff advising a top aide to Vladimir Putin on how to present a peace proposal to President Trump regarding the war in Ukraine.
The conversation, dated October 14th, detailed Witkoff’s suggestions for Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s chief foreign policy advisor. He specifically proposed framing a potential peace deal by referencing the recent Israel-Hamas truce, a deal Witkoff himself helped broker, as a demonstration of successful negotiation.
Witkoff reportedly outlined a “Trump plan” consisting of twenty points for peace, suggesting a similar approach could be taken with Russia. He urged Ushakov to emphasize Trump’s role as a “man of peace” and to congratulate him on the recent truce, believing this would pave the way for a productive conversation.
Details of the proposed peace plan, originally 28 points, have surfaced, revealing a significant bias towards Russian interests. The plan would grant Russia control over territories in Ukraine it doesn’t currently occupy, including the complete surrender of the Donetsk region, as well as control of Luhansk and Crimea.
The previous administration had reportedly given Ukrainian President Zelenskyy a deadline to accept these terms, a move heavily criticized by Ukraine, Canada, and European leaders. Zelenskyy is now scheduled to visit the White House amidst this escalating tension.
The leaked call has ignited outrage across the political spectrum. Lawmakers from both parties have voiced strong condemnation, questioning Witkoff’s loyalty and fitness to negotiate on behalf of the United States.
One Republican representative publicly accused Witkoff of favoring Russia and called for his immediate dismissal, questioning whether a Russian agent could have acted differently. A Democratic representative went even further, labeling Witkoff a “traitor” to the country.
Another Republican urged the administration to remove Witkoff from negotiations entirely, advocating for the Secretary of State to take the lead in a more objective and transparent manner. The call is being described as a “major problem” and a distraction from legitimate diplomatic efforts.
President Trump defended the conversation as a “standard form of negotiation,” characterizing it as the work of a skilled dealmaker. He claimed he hadn’t reviewed the call but asserted that presenting different perspectives is a common tactic in negotiations.
Trump further stated that the original peace plan has been refined with input from both sides, and that only a few points of disagreement remain. This statement, however, does little to quell the concerns raised by the leaked conversation and the perceived pro-Russian bias of the proposed terms.
