On October 14, Steve Witkoff advised Russian official Yuri Ushakov to have President Putin call President Trump, offering suggestions on what Putin should say. Following this, Putin did call Trump on October 16, and on October 17, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Trump did not offer Tomahawk missiles, potentially due to the influence of the call. Witkoff’s actions, including promoting Putin’s positions, may have contributed to prolonging the war by encouraging the Russians and could be influencing Trump to not pressure Russia. This behavior and the conversations about potential investments with Russia suggest a deeper motivation, which is still unknown.
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Ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, at the urging of White House envoy Steve Witkoff, warned President Trump against sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine during an October 2025 phone call. Witkoff, in a pre-call conversation with a top Russian foreign policy aide, coached Putin on how to appeal to Trump’s ego to ensure a positive call. Following the call, Trump decided against providing the missiles, despite prior consideration and pressure from Zelensky. This decision came even as the Pentagon had approved the transfer of the missiles, and despite Ukraine’s interest in leveraging the weapons.
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Leaked transcripts from Bloomberg reveal that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff coached a Putin aide on how to manage President Trump and suggested a peace plan between Russia and Ukraine. The transcripts detail Witkoff encouraging the Russian aide to have Putin flatter Trump and praising a Mideast peace deal to get Trump to favor Russia. Furthermore, it appears a 28-point U.S.-Russian peace plan favored Russia and was heavily amended, potentially originating from the Russian side. Reactions include calls for Witkoff’s replacement by Ukrainian officials and accusations that the leaks are fake.
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The leaked recording of a phone call between Special Envoy to Ukraine, Steve Witkoff, and a top Russian official has sparked outrage among a few U.S. representatives. In the recording, Witkoff reportedly coached Moscow on how to handle Donald Trump and suggested a peace deal would require Russia to gain control of Donetsk and potentially additional Ukrainian territory. Witkoff also offered tactical advice, including how Putin should approach Trump. While some representatives have called for Witkoff’s dismissal, others have defended his actions as standard negotiation tactics, and Trump has sent Witkoff to Moscow to meet with Putin.
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President Trump defended Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s actions, calling them standard practice for dealmakers. Trump stated that Witkoff was simply doing his job by selling the deal to both Ukraine and Russia, highlighting the necessity of pressure and persuasion in negotiations. While admitting he hadn’t heard the specific recording, Trump viewed the approach as a normal form of negotiation, implying that both sides needed to compromise. These comments came in response to Bloomberg’s publication of a transcript where Witkoff advised Putin’s aides on presenting a “peace agreement” to Trump.
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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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Following the success of the Gaza peace deal, US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a collaborative effort with Russia to establish a similar plan for Ukraine. Witkoff, during a brief phone call with Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy aide, offered advice on how Putin should present the proposal to Donald Trump. Witkoff suggested Putin initiate a call with Trump before a planned White House visit by Volodymyr Zelenskiy, utilizing the Gaza agreement as a model.
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Following the successful brokering of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to prioritize resolving the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump’s shift in focus follows stalled peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv, despite his previous backing of direct negotiations. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who attempted to negotiate a peace deal with Putin, faced criticism for echoing Russian narratives and lacking a clear understanding of Ukraine’s position. Trump also stated he is prepared to send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine but plans to first discuss the matter with Putin.
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President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has faced criticism for allegedly presenting conflicting information regarding Vladimir Putin’s intentions during talks with European leaders. Reports indicate Witkoff presented different ceasefire proposals, causing confusion amongst officials. Critics, including former U.S. officials and other public figures, have condemned Witkoff’s actions, citing “damaging incompetence.” Despite the criticism, Trump claims progress was made during Witkoff’s meeting with Putin, and a further meeting is scheduled for August 15th.
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According to a report in Bild, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff may have misrepresented Russia’s stance on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine following a meeting with Vladimir Putin. Bild claims Russia maintains its demand for complete control of Crimea and several Ukrainian oblasts before any ceasefire, and has only agreed to a “sectoral” ceasefire. This discrepancy may stem from Witkoff’s alleged misunderstanding of Putin’s comments on a “peaceful withdrawal” from certain regions. Anonymous Ukrainian and German government officials reportedly share this assessment, indicating a significant misinterpretation of Russia’s position.
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John Q. Hosedrinker