Trump aide ripped after report he coached Russian official

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U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff is facing backlash from lawmakers after a report revealed he helped coach a Kremlin official on how Russia could pitch President Donald Trump on a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.

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On Tuesday, Bloomberg said it obtained a leaked phone call between Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, on Oct. 14.

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During the approximately five-minute conversation, Witkoff suggested to the official that Putin could broach a peace deal by mentioning the Israel-Hamas truce that the U.S. envoy brokered.

“We put a 20-point Trump plan together that was 20 points for peace and I’m thinking maybe we do the same thing with you,” Witkoff told Ushakov, according to a recording of the conversation.

Witkoff, who is set to meet Putin next week in Moscow, also said in the call that Trump would be open to speaking with the Russian leader.

Congratulate Trump

“Just reiterate that you congratulate the president [Trump] on this achievement … that you respect that he is a man of peace and you’re just, you’re really glad to have seen it happen,” Witkoff is quoted. “I think from that it’s going to be a really good call.”

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The 28-point peace deal pushed by the Trump administration heavily favours the Kremlin’s interests as Russia would gain territory from Ukraine that it is currently not occupying and would also see the surrender of the entire Donetsk region.

The plan, which was criticized by Ukraine, Canada and European leaders, would also see Russia granted control of Luhansk and Crimea.

Thursday deadline

The Trump administration gave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky until Thursday to agree to the terms set out in the mainly one-sided peace treaty. Zelensky is set to visit the White House visit on Friday.

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Some Democrats and Republicans were furious as they reacted to the leaked call on social media.

“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,” Nebraska Republican lawmaker Don Bacon wrote on X.

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“He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations,” and added Witkoff should be fired.

California Democrat Ted Lieu called Witkoff a “traitor” to the country.

“Steve Witkoff is supposed to work for the United States, not Russia,” he shared on X.

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Pennsylvania Republican Brian Fitzpatrick said the call was problematic and urged the administration to let U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio handle peace negotiations.

“This is a major problem,” he wrote on X. “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.”

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Trump described the conversation Tuesday as a “standard form of negotiation” but said he didn’t review the call.

“That’s what a dealmaker does,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “You’ve got to say, ‘Look, they want this, you’ve got to convince them of this.’ That’s a very standard form of negotiation.”

Trump also defended his special envoy on his social media platform.

“The original 28-Point Peace Plan, which was drafted by the United States, has been fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides, and there are only a few remaining points of disagreement,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

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