For a possible “peace plan”Report: Witkoff gives advice to Moscow on dealing with Trump
The US President has especially relied on Steve Witkoff to exchange ideas with the Kremlin. Based on the transcript of a telephone conversation with a Putin employee, it becomes clear: Trump’s special envoy gave the Russians tips on how they could flatter their boss.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has apparently given Russia tips on how to deal with the US head of state for a “peace plan” that might interest him. In an October 14 telephone conversation with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, Witkoff is said to have recommended to Russia that Putin call Trump as soon as possible, Bloomberg reported, citing a transcript of the conversation.
In the conversation, the Russian ruler should praise the US President for his commitment to ending the war in the Gaza Strip and express his respect for Trump as a man of peace. “It’s going to be a great conversation from there,” Witkoff said. “Maybe he would say to President Trump: You know, Steve and Yuri have discussed a very similar 20-point peace plan, and this could be something that we think could change the situation a little bit. We’re open to things like that.” From the transcript it is not clear what the aforementioned 20-point plan contains and to what extent it corresponds to the very Moscow-friendly 28-point plan presented a few days ago.
Trump’s special adviser also said in the call that he had great respect for Russia. He also told Trump that he believed Russia had always wanted a peace deal. Witkoff also made it clear that he knows what it would take to complete the peace plan: “Donetsk and a territory exchange somewhere,” he said, referring to territory in eastern Ukraine that is claimed by Moscow but is still not fully occupied by Russia.
Putin praises Trump for Gaza deal
Witkoff stated that a phone call between Trump and Putin should take place before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the White House. “Zelenskyj will come to the White House on Friday,” the Trump adviser said. “I went because they wanted me there, but I think if possible we should talk to your boss on the phone before this Friday’s meeting.”
The telephone conversation between Trump and Putin that Witkoff recommended finally took place on October 16. The day before the Ukrainian president traveled to Trump. After the phone call, the US President announced that he wanted to meet with the Kremlin boss in Budapest as soon as possible and talked about a “very productive” conversation. However, for now, he has canceled those plans.
After the phone call with Putin, Trump also mentioned that Putin had congratulated him on the Gaza deal. In conversations with Witkoff, Ushakov had promised that the Russian autocrat would congratulate Trump and described him as a “true peacemaker.”
Trump himself defended his adviser after the phone conversation was made public. “That’s completely normal,” Trump said. Because Witkoff had to make a point to Russia and Ukraine. “That’s what dealmakers do. I’ve never heard of it myself, but I hear it’s a normal negotiating tactic.”
The White House defended Witkoff’s actions in the phone call. “This story proves one thing: Special Representative Witkoff speaks almost daily with Russian and Ukrainian representatives to achieve peace – exactly as President Trump told him to do,” said Trump communications director Steven Cheung.
