Donald Trump has chosen to stand by his longtime associate and special envoy for peace missions, Steve Witkoff, despite a recent report suggesting Witkoff may have advised a Russian aide on how to approach the U.S. president. Bloomberg News released a transcript of an October 14 phone call where Witkoff reportedly discussed collaborating with Yuri Ushakov on a ceasefire plan for Ukraine and suggested that Putin should bring it up with Trump.
The White House is facing scrutiny following a week of confusion and criticism surrounding a proposed peace plan for Ukraine. The leaked U.S.-led plan involved Ukraine limiting its military size and renouncing any future NATO aspirations, while Russia would gain additional territory from its invasion earlier in 2022. Ushakov labeled some leaked details as “fake” without elaborating, emphasizing the confidentiality of the call. The leak was deemed “unacceptable” by Ushakov.
House Republican Don Bacon has called for Witkoff’s removal from the negotiating team in light of the Bloomberg report, asserting that Witkoff’s actions seem to favor Russia, raising concerns about his trustworthiness. Rep. Ted Lieu has gone further, labeling Witkoff as an “actual traitor” on social media.
Despite the controversy, the White House did not dispute the authenticity of the transcript. Trump characterized Witkoff’s communication with the Russians as standard negotiation tactics while en route to his Florida estate. Trump mentioned that Witkoff would be meeting with Putin soon, with involvement from Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who also played a role in negotiating a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.
The Kremlin confirmed Witkoff’s upcoming visit to Moscow for discussions on the peace plan with senior U.S. officials. Ushakov expressed his intention to communicate with Witkoff regarding the leak before their meeting. The recent developments have raised questions about the administration’s stance on Russia, particularly in light of Trump’s past interactions with Putin and controversies surrounding Ukraine.
Witkoff, despite his lack of diplomatic experience, was appointed as the White House’s special envoy for peace missions due to his longstanding relationship with Trump. He has been praised for his efforts in brokering peace between Israel and Hamas but has faced criticism for his approach to Russia-Ukraine diplomacy. Recent revelations of secret meetings and peace plan proposals have sparked concerns and calls for increased transparency in the negotiation process.
As Ukraine and its allies work on amending the peace plan, concerns linger about Russia’s willingness to accept the proposed changes. International leaders are closely monitoring the situation, with Canada participating in discussions led by European leaders to support Ukraine in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
