By John Q. Hosedrinker 
According to a recent report, Steve Witkoff, a long-time associate of Donald Trump, provided strategic advice to Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy aide to Vladimir Putin, on how to approach Trump regarding a potential peace plan between Russia and Ukraine. During a phone call, Witkoff suggested Putin personally congratulate Trump on a recent ceasefire, positioning him as a “man of peace” to gain favor. Witkoff went on to suggest how the peace plan should be presented to Trump and even seemed to acknowledge that Ukraine would make numerous concessions to Russia. This advice, alongside a separate peace plan drafted by Putin’s advisers, has sparked controversy and criticism.
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Leaked Call Shows Top Trump Aide Teaching Russia How to Suck Up to Trump. This whole situation is wild, really. It’s like something out of a bad spy movie, only it’s real life. We’re talking about a leaked phone call, allegedly between a top Trump aide, Steve Witkoff, and some of Vladimir Putin’s top advisors. The core of this call? Witkoff, essentially, giving the Russians a masterclass in how to butter up Donald Trump.
The basic premise is this: Witkoff apparently told Putin’s people to get the Russian leader to call Trump and congratulate him on the Gaza ceasefire. He advised them to frame it in a way that would stroke Trump’s ego, emphasizing how Trump is a “man of peace.” Then, and this is where it gets really interesting, Witkoff seemed to lay out a suggested script for the conversation, including the presentation of a peace plan that could involve Ukraine making significant concessions. He’s even quoted as admitting he knows what it’ll take, including territory transfers, which the average American might not be aware of.
It seems the Russians were ready to play along. The leaked call details how Putin’s advisors planned to create their own version of a peace plan, passing it along to Witkoff, hoping he would keep it close to the Russian stance. Essentially, they were hoping to manipulate the situation behind the scenes. And sure enough, after that call, Trump put out a Truth Social post about how Putin had congratulated him and that his efforts in the Middle East could help end the war in Ukraine. It’s a pretty clear example of how Trump can be persuaded by flattery.
This is made all the more concerning when you consider the context. Witkoff, as a real estate developer, seemingly had no business advising on foreign policy. Yet, he was involved in these discussions, providing direction to Russia on how to approach Trump. This whole episode raises questions about who was really running foreign policy during the Trump administration. Was it officials focused on national interests, or were others like Witkoff, focused on leveraging Trump’s ego for specific outcomes?
This is not a new playbook. Trump’s history shows he’s easily swayed by flattery. Remember the countless times foreign leaders would shower him with praise? The Swiss, for example, apparently gave him gifts and then saw tariff changes. It’s almost too easy, and it seems to be an open secret among those who want to influence him. It seems anyone can get Trump to do anything by flattering him for a few minutes and letting him think their ideas are his.
This whole situation is a problem for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it undermines U.S. foreign policy objectives. It makes it easier for foreign adversaries to manipulate the situation, and to achieve their own goals at the expense of American interests. Secondly, it is potentially illegal. Collusion with a foreign power to influence U.S. policy or election can be criminal behavior, and many are calling this “treasonous” conduct.
The fallout from this whole thing is continuing. A lot of questions are being asked, and people will likely have to answer to them. This call, if proven true, is a clear example of how easily Trump can be manipulated, and the potential consequences of such manipulation. This entire thing demonstrates how important it is for leaders to have advisors with deep experience, integrity, and knowledge of foreign policy.