Russian invasion Negotiations

Trump defends Witkoff after leaked Kremlin call

US President Donald Trump is defending envoy Steve Witkoff after a call in which he advised Yuri Ushakov, Putin's right-hand man, was leaked. The Wall Street Journal reports. In the call, Witkoff appears to be coaching Ushakov in the art of convincing Trump of a peace plan.

When Trump was asked by reporters about the leaked call, the president said he had not heard the audio clip, but that Witkoff had done what was expected of him when he tried to "sell" the peace plan to both Russia and Ukraine.

The leak has prompted some Republicans to criticize the White House for putting the Kremlin's interests ahead of Ukraine's in its efforts to end the war started by Russia.

Republican Dan Bacon writes on X that it is "clear that Witkoff cannot be trusted to lead the negotiations".

Witkoff has visited Moscow several times this year and is expected to return next week to meet with President Vladimir Putin. 

Trump: Witkoff to meet Putin in Russia next week

Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week, the president told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is backing down from his earlier demand that Ukraine approve his peace plan by Thursday.

“The deadline for me is when it's over,” Trump said, according to the Guardian.

The Trump administration has described its peace plan as a success, but experts have argued that key differences between Russia and Ukraine remain.

Analysis: "The peace plan is full of Russian fingerprints"

There were "Russian fingerprints" all over Donald Trump's 28-point plan for a Ukraine peace - and now we know why. Sky News' James Matthews writes in an analysis.

Bloomberg was able to reveal yesterday that US envoy Steve Witkoff had advised Yuri Ushakov, Putin's right-hand man, on how a peace plan could best be sold to Trump. Serious questions must now be asked about Witkoff's relationship with the Russians, Matthews writes and points out that the envoy is on his way back for a new meeting in Moscow.

“Moscow’s threat to Ukraine and to the entire security structure of Western Europe is strengthened by his handshake.”

Witkoff’s conversation with Ushakov shows the envoy’s lack of experience, writes Rob Crilly in an analysis in The Telegraph. Crilly describes the conversation as embarrassing and writes that Witkoff used a condescending tone towards Ushakov. It illustrates Witkoff’s lack of understanding of Russia and its leaders, he writes.

“It suggests that he is too close to Moscow and does not understand the threat that Putin poses.”

The peace plan — the point

• The US and Russia produced a 28-point peace plan for Ukraine that involved major concessions from Ukraine, including handing over Donbas and halving Ukrainian defense.
• The plan was met with strong criticism from EU countries and Ukraine, who considered it close to the Kremlin’s demands and amounted to Ukrainian capitulation.
• The US put heavy pressure on Ukraine to accept the plan, including through threats of withdrawal of aid and a tight deadline for signing.
• Negotiations were held in Switzerland between the United States, Ukraine, and European countries, where alternative proposals were discussed and demands for Ukrainian sovereignty were highlighted.
• The United States and Ukraine ultimately agreed on a new 19-point proposal that leaves the most difficult issues for direct negotiation between Zelensky and Trump.