This is a mole hunt after being published by the agency Bloomberg contents of a phone call that occurred on October 14 between Steve Witkoff, special correspondent Donald Trumpand Yuri Ushakov, diplomatic advisor Vladimir Putin. During the five-minute conversation, the real estate developer admitted to knowing “what it would take to reach a peace deal: Donetsk and perhaps a territory swap somewhere“. Witkoff also gave advice on how to behave with the US president and suggested drawing up a peace plan similar to the one signed for Gaza, thus confirming suspicions about the lack of mutual distance between Ukraine and Russia and about the actual Russian origins of the peace proposal with Kiev.
Observers are wondering who and why released the transcript of Trump’s envoy’s phone call to the press. Try to pay attention to the situation Wall Street Journal which, according to senior Russian officials, the perpetrators were found among the Old Continent’s secret services ready to sabotage a ceasefire deemed too favorable to Moscow. The theory expressed by Brussels is completely contradictory: moles will be found among the Russian people, especially among representatives of the government or oligarchs of the Federation who profit from the war and want it to continue. Then there are those who talk about the power play planned by Russia to show that Witkoff is at their service and there are those who point fingers at its elements “dishonest” from US government agencies concerned about the possibility that Trump would pressure Ukraine to sign a deal favorable to the Kremlin.
A senior Trump administration official, reported Wall Street Journalsaid he believed the call was leaked by a foreign intelligence agency and that the target was not Witkoff but Ushakov, who was also recorded in a second conversation with another Moscow envoy, Kirill Dmitriev. Regarding the international mystery raised by the publication of the transcript, “a European security officialstated that dozens of countries around the world had the necessary technology to listen in on Ushakov’s conversations because Putin’s diplomatic advisers used open telephone lines. The same source named European countries as one of the suspects, but did not exclude the Russian leadership due to divisions and internal disputes within the Federation over Dmitriev’s role.
After ruling out Ukrainian responsibility – it is believed that at the current stage Kiev is not interested in irritating the White House – further theories about the origins of the leak call into question US intelligence agencies are opposed to the role played by businessmen like Witkoff in discussions over the complex documents with Russia. He gave an explanation about it Corriere della Sera who, after stating that it had yet to be confirmed, focused on the possibility of “political coverage” against US 007’s maneuvers. According to this theory, with background leakingthere will be challenges between Secretary of State Rubio,”surprised by Witkoff’s movements” and pro-Ukrainian, as well as President Vance, who is clearly colder towards Kiev. Two figures who are not surprised to be able to compete for leadership of the Republican Party in the 2028 presidential election.
It is not surprising that a few hours after the news was published Bloomberg There were protests from some Republican legislators who called on the White House to end “secret meeting” and entrusted the Ukraine file to Marco Rubio. Witkoff “He behaved as if he was being paid by Russiasaid Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon, adding that “This entire incident is a failure and a stain on our country. He needs to be fired“.
Meanwhile, the American President defended Witkoff’s position.
“That’s a very standard form of negotiation because he has to sell this deal“to both sides,”because each party must give and receive” Trump said. Surprisingly, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak also defended Witkoff, leaving out that “is playing on the Kremlin side“.
