American special envoy Steve Witkoff is confronting intense bipartisan criticism following revelations that he advised a senior Kremlin official on how to approach peace negotiations with the Trump administration regarding Ukraine.
Leaked Conversation Sparks Outrage
According to a Bloomberg report published Tuesday, a recorded phone conversation from October 14 captured Witkoff providing strategic guidance to Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's top foreign policy aide. The approximately five-minute discussion occurred ahead of Witkoff's scheduled meeting with Putin in Moscow next week.
During the exchange, Witkoff suggested that Russia could leverage the recent Israel-Hamas truce brokered by the United States as a model for presenting peace proposals. "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 the leaked recording.
Controversial Peace Terms Revealed
The proposed 28-point peace agreement heavily favors Russian interests, requiring Ukraine to surrender territory beyond current conflict lines. The plan would grant Russia control over the entire Donetsk region, along with Luhansk and Crimea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faces a Thursday deadline to accept these terms, with a White House visit scheduled for Friday. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Ukraine, Canada, and European leaders who view the conditions as predominantly one-sided.
Bipartisan Condemnation Erupts
Lawmakers from both major American political parties expressed fury upon learning of the leaked conversation. Nebraska Republican Congressman Don Bacon declared that "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."
Bacon further stated that Witkoff cannot be trusted to lead negotiations and should be removed from his position.
California Democratic Representative Ted Lieu employed even stronger language, calling Witkoff a "traitor" and emphasizing that "Steve Witkoff is supposed to work for the United States, not Russia."
Pennsylvania Republican Brian Fitzpatrick described the situation as a "major problem" and urged the administration to allow Secretary of State Marco Rubio to handle peace discussions through proper channels.
Administration Response and Defense
President Trump characterized the conversation as a "standard form of negotiation" during remarks aboard Air Force One, though he acknowledged not reviewing the call personally. "That's what a dealmaker does," Trump explained. "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."
The president later defended his special envoy on Truth Social, noting that the original 28-point plan had been refined with input from both sides and that only minor disagreements remained.
The controversy emerges as diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict intensify, with the leaked call raising serious questions about negotiation tactics and alignment with American interests.
