Leaked calls between Steve Witkoff and Putin’s advisers raise new questions about Trump’s ‘peace plan.’
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Leaked calls between Steve Witkoff and Putin’s advisers raise new questions about Trump’s ‘peace plan.’ Here’s how the world is reacting.
4-5 minutes 11/26/2025
On November 25, Bloomberg published transcripts of two phone calls involving Yuri Ushakov, a top aide to the Russian president — one with Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and another with Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev. Both conversations, held in October, centered on a proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine. The transcripts show Witkoff speaking warmly with his Kremlin counterparts and offering Ushakov advice on how Putin could present his position to Trump. They also imply that Dmitriev passed along a list of Russia’s demands for a peace plan. Dmitriev has called them fake, but Ushakov hasn’t denied their authenticity. The tone and content of the exchanges have angered many in Ukraine and across the West. Meduza shares a selection of reactions.
Christopher Miller , chief Ukraine correspondent for the Financial Times
“Stunning stuff even if it’s what we have come to expect from Witkoff. Here he explicitly advises Russian officials how Putin should deal with Trump, and also shows a staggering, fundamental misunderstanding of Putin’s goals and the war.”
J.D. Vance , vice president of the United States
“The media is lying in order to derail the president’s agenda. It’s really that simple.”
Kirill Dmitriev , Russian presidential special envoy (responding to Vance’s statement above on X )
“Yes. And this is a well-funded, well-organized malicious media machine built to spread fake narratives, smear opponents and keep people confused.”
John Haltiwanger , journalist at Foreign Policy
“Question of the day: Who leaked the Witkoff-Ushakov + Dmitriev-Ushakov calls to Bloomberg? Whoever did is likely trying to help Kyiv, because the transcripts provide ammo to critics of the 28-point plan (that’s since been revised) who have decried it as a capitulation to Russia.”
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Christo Grozev , investigative journalist
“This genius [Dmitriev] held a highly classified discussion with Putin’s key foreign policy advisor on an unencrypted GSM line. Can’t believe after 10 years of us basing our most damning investigations on cell phone data, these idiots are still doing it.”
Yaroslav Trofimov, journalist at The Wall Street Journal
“Everyone is speculating on the source of the leak. Literally dozens of countries have the capacity to intercept this kind of conversations on unencrypted cellphones, which is why professionals use other means. And obviously whoever has these tapes must have much more.”
Yuri Ushakov , aide to the Russian president
“Yes, there are contacts over secure lines, where leaks almost never happen unless one of the parties allows them on purpose. And then there are certain conversations on WhatsApp, which someone can apparently find a way to listen in on. In this case, it’s hard to imagine that the leak came from anyone involved in the call.”
Don Bacon , Republican representative from Nebraska, retired Air Force Brigadier General
“For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign & democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians. He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired.”
Brian Fitzpatrick , Republican representative from Pennsylvania
“This is a major problem. And one of the many reasons why these ridiculous side shows and secret meetings need to stop. Allow Secretary of State Marco Rubio to do his job in a fair and objective manner.”
Donald Trump , president of the United States
“That’s a standard thing. [Witkoff’s] gotta sell this to Ukraine, he’s gotta sell Ukraine to Russia. That’s what a dealmaker does […] I haven’t heard it, but I heard it was standard negotiation. And I would imagine he’s saying the same thing to Ukraine, because each party has to give and take.”
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Witkoff, and by extension Trump, are colluding with Russia.
And selling out Ukraine to a fascist murdering war criminal.... who, by the way, they both admire greatly.