Witkoff advised Russia on how to convey its plans for Ukraine to Trump. Recordings of telephone calls between the US presidential envoy and senior Kremlin officials, revealed by Bloomberg, show this parallel diplomacy which characterized Washington’s entourage.
His interlocutor
Steve Wittkoff: American businessman and real estate developer, he acts here asspecial envoy American president on sensitive issues such as Ukraine and the Middle East. Its non-institutional position provides freedom and flexibility, but raises questions about respect for existing diplomatic channels.
Yuri Uchakov: Diplomatic advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2012 and former Russian ambassador to Washington. Uchakov is one of the Kremlin’s closest and most experienced foreign policy advisers, giving this exchange a maximum strategic importance Russian side.
Exchange issues
The conversation took place shortly after the signing of the agreement on the Middle East (Gaza), a success alluded to at the start of the exchange. Witkoff’s main goal was to prepare the ground for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which he wanted to present as a solution. “big problem” negotiated directly between Presidents Putin and Trump.
Ego instrumentalization: Witkoff provided his Russian counterpart with a detailed instruction manual on how to flatter the US president’s ego to ensure the success of future high-level communications.
Foreign policy subversion: The American envoy not only discussed the territorial concessions (Donetsk) that would be granted to Russia, but also suggested sabotaging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s official visit to the White House by ensuring that Putin-Trump communications took place right beforehand.
This episode raised serious concerns in the United States regarding the possibility of such a caseintelligence with foreign powers, highlights the erosion of boundaries between political interests and national security.
🤝 Gaza, a bargaining chip
The dialogue opens with a ritual of flattery and mutual recognition. Uchakov credits Witkoff with the success of the Gaza agreement, building important trust. The claim that Moscow has “postponed” the summit is a maneuver to do just that privately praised the Trump administration for its major accomplishmentsturning Gaza’s success into a political currency to be spent on solving Ukraine’s problems.
Steve Wittkoff: Hi Yuri.
Yuri Uchakov: Yes Steve, hi, how are you?
SW: Good Yuri. And how are you?
YOU: I’m fine. Congratulations, my friend.
YOU: You did an amazing job. Very good job. Thank you very much. Thank you thank you.
SW : Thank you Youri and thank you for your support. I know your country supports it and I thank you for that.
YOU: Yes, Yes, Yes. Yes. You know, that’s why we postponed the holding of the first Russian-Arab summit.
YOU: Yes, because we think you’re the one doing the real work in this area.
🎯 Ukraine, the “only problem” to be solved
The transition is fluid and agreed upon. Uchakov’s laughter signaled the two sides’ strategic alignment on a key objective: Ukraine. The Russian adviser tested access to the presidential direct line, while Witkoff assured that it was immediately available, stressing that the decision was based solely on Trump’s personal wishes (“my man”).
SW: Listen carefully. I’ll tell you something. I think if we can solve the Russian-Ukrainian problem, everyone will jump for joy.
YOU: Yes, Yes, Yes. Yes, you just have one more problem to solve. (laugh)
YOU: Russo-Ukrainian War.
SW : I know ! How do we overcome this?
YOU: My friend, I just want your opinion. Do you think it would be beneficial if our leaders spoke on the phone?
YOU: You think so. And when do you think that might happen?
SW : I think once you suggested it, my guy was ready to do it.
👔 How to overcome Trump’s ego
Witkoff became a communications consultant for the Kremlin, providing instructions manipulating your own presidential ego. Access to negotiations is subject to flattery protocols: praising Trump as a “man of peace” and validating narrative threads that support Trump. Russia is a reasonable peace partner. The “Trump 20 Point Plan” format is offered as a marketing packaging to guarantee the authorship and simplicity of the initiative.
SW: Yuri, Yuri, this is what I’m going to do. My recommendation.
SW: I would call and reiterate that you congratulate the president on this accomplishment, that you support him… that you respect the fact that he is a man of peace and that you are truly happy to see this happen. So I’ll say that. I think from there it will be a really good decision.
SW: Because, let me tell you what I said to the president. I told the president that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace treaty. That’s what I believe. (…) I even think we could make a 20-point peace proposal, like we did in Gaza.
YOU: OK, OK my friend. I think our leaders can discuss this particular thing. Hi Steve, I agree with you, he will congratulate him, he will say that Mr. Trump is really a man of peace, and so on. He will say it.
💰 Price disclosure and parallel channel confirmation
The phrase “between us” marks the moment strategic concessions. Witkoff revealed the bottom agreement by accepting a priori Russian maximalist demands (surrender of Donetsk). It provides a roadmap for hiding these territorial losses behind the positive language of “hope”. Own insistence room for maneuver and tact asserted that the parallel channel was the only place where the terms of compromise would be determined, without bypassing the American state apparatus.
SW: Maybe he could tell President Trump: You know, Steve and Yuri discussed a very similar 20-point peace plan… Now, between us, I know what it would take to reach a peace deal: Donetsk and maybe a territory swap somewhere. But I say instead of talking like that, let’s talk with more hope because I think we will reach an agreement here. And I think, Yuri, the president will give me a lot of leeway and flexibility to reach this agreement.
YOU: I see… OK, that suits me. That suits me.
⚔️ Subversion of the official agenda: Zelensky’s sabotage
This is a stage tactical neutralization. Witkoff identified the visit of Ukrainian allies as a potential obstacle, and strongly suggested Russia should hold a Putin-Trump phone call Before this one. The goal is to establishes a framework for bilateral negotiations (Moscow-Washington) and lowered Zelensky’s positionreducing him to a secondary actor faced with a fait accompli by two great powers. THAT laugh Uchakov confirmed the involvement and acceptance of this maneuver.
SW: And one more thing: Zelensky is coming to the White House on Friday.
SW: I’m going to this meeting because they want me to be there, but I think if possible, it’s best to call your boss before this Friday’s meeting.
YOU: Okay, okay. I understand your suggestion. I’ll discuss it with my boss and then I’ll get back to you, okay?
