Witkoff gave Russian aide advice on how to sell Ukraine deal to Trump: report

US Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff gave a senior Kremlin official tips about the way to promote a Ukraine peace deal to President Donald Trump, a report stated.

Witkoff spoke by telephone on October 14 with Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s high overseas coverage aide, and suggested him on how Putin ought to elevate the topic with the US president, in keeping with Bloomberg.

“We put collectively a 20-point Trump plan that was 20 factors for peace, and I feel we’d do the identical with you,” Witkoff was quoted as saying by Bloomberg, referring to the Trump administration’s peace deal in Gaza.

In the course of the telephone name, which lasted about 5 minutes, Witkoff stated he had deep respect for Putin and had knowledgeable Trump that he believed Russia had all the time needed a peace deal for Ukraine. Bloomberg reports this.

TRUMP PRAISES ‘GREAT PROGRESS,’ BUT SAYS HE WILL MEET PUTIN AND ZELENSKYY ‘ONLY WHEN’ THE PEACE DEAL IS FINAL

US Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos; Alex Wroblewski/AFP by way of Getty Photos; Alexander Kazakov/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Photos)

Witkoff talked about that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White Home in mid-October and that Putin was capable of communicate with Trump forward of that assembly, the report stated.

“Zelenskyy is coming to the White Home on Friday,” Witkoff stated, in keeping with a recording of the telephone name obtained by Bloomberg. “I am going there as a result of they need me there, however I feel we must always have a name along with your boss earlier than Friday’s assembly if attainable.”

Witkoff recommended that Putin congratulate Trump on the Gaza peace deal, saying that Russia supported it and that he respects Trump as a person of peace, Bloomberg reported.

“That is what I feel could be nice,” Witkoff reportedly added. “Possibly he is saying to President Trump, , Steve and Yuri have mentioned a really related 20-point plan for peace and that could possibly be one thing that we expect might transfer the needle somewhat bit. We’re open to that sort of factor.”

Bloomberg additionally reported that Ushakov stated Putin will “congratulate” Trump and say, “Mr. Trump is a real man of peace.”

UKRAINE AGREES TO PEACE DEAL, US OFFICIAL SAYS

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, talks with President Donald Trump and members of his Cupboard throughout a lunch assembly on the White Home on October 17, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos)

Fox Information Digital has contacted the White Home for remark.

When requested concerning the Witkoff telephone name, Trump instructed reporters on Air Drive One on Tuesday that he had not heard the audio.

“I have never heard it. No, nevertheless it’s normal, , as a result of he will promote this to Ukraine. He has to promote Ukraine to Russia. That is what he’s, that is what a dealmaker does. You need to say, look, they need this. You need to persuade him of this. You already know, that is a really normal type of negotiation,” Trump stated.

“I did not hear it, however I heard it was normal negotiations. And I think about he is saying the identical factor to Ukraine, as a result of both sides has to offer and take,” Trump continued.

“This warfare might final years and Russia has much more folks and much more troopers,” the president additionally stated. “So I feel if Ukraine could make a deal, it is a good factor. Truthfully, I feel it is nice for each. I feel it is nice for each of them.”

White Home Communications Director Steven Cheung instructed Bloomberg: “This story proves one factor: Particular Envoy Witkoff talks to officers in each Russia and Ukraine virtually day-after-day to attain peace, which is strictly what President Trump has tasked him to do.”

Ushakov instructed Russian media on Wednesday that particulars of his dialog with Witkoff shouldn’t have been leaked, describing the state of affairs as “unacceptable.” according to Reuters.

It added that Ushakov stated the leak was meant to hamper discussions between the US and Russia and that he would elevate the matter with Witkoff.

Firefighters extinguished a hearth after a Russian drone struck a multi-storey residential constructing in Kiev, Ukraine, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

On Tuesday, Ukraine agreed to the peace deal that will finish the warfare with Russia, a US official instructed Fox Information.

Some minor particulars of the deal nonetheless must be ironed out, the official stated.

Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, spokesman for U.S. Military Secretary Dan Driscoll, had instructed Fox Information that Driscoll and his staff met with Russian officers in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday to debate the framework for a peace deal for Ukraine.

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A US official instructed Fox Information that the Ukrainian delegation was additionally in Abu Dhabi and involved with Driscoll and his staff.

Fox Information’ Ashley Carnahan and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.