President Donald Trump dismissed concerns over a leaked phone transcript showing his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, advising Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov on how Russian President Vladimir Putin should prepare for a call with Trump.
The Bloomberg-reported audio revealed Witkoff coaching Moscow on strategy during negotiations over a U.S.-brokered Ukraine peace plan.
Reporter: Have you heard this audio that Bloomberg has of Witkoff coaching the Russians on how to appeal to you?
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 26, 2025
Trump: Well, I haven’t heard it, no. But that’s a standard thing, you know, because he’s got to sell this to Ukraine. He’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia. That’s what… pic.twitter.com/1n7Gz5mhWN
Trump defended Witkoff’s conduct, calling it “standard negotiation,” and argued that both Russia and Ukraine must “give and take.”
Critics on Capitol Hill, including GOP Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, accused Witkoff of leaning toward Moscow and demanded his removal.
Bloomberg published a transcript of a conversation between US Special Envoy Witkoff and Putin's adviser Ushakov regarding the preparation of the US peace plan.
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) November 25, 2025
It shows that Witkoff advises Ushakov on how Putin can win President Trump's favor.
This could become a major scandal.… pic.twitter.com/I4FrsplJ65
The transcript leak frustrated the Kremlin, with Ushakov insisting the conversations were confidential. The episode comes as Witkoff prepares for a trip to Moscow next week for further talks, potentially joined by Jared Kushner.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg https://t.co/P0wXMFavBS
— Bloomberg (@business) November 25, 2025
Trump says he may meet both Putin and Zelensky once a deal nears completion, stressing that his only deadline is “when it’s over.”
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