Trump Envoy Steve Witkoff Reportedly Advised Kremlin on Ukraine Peace Terms

Envoy's Advice to Kremlin Official Revealed

Steve Witkoff, identified as Donald Trump's special envoy, reportedly advised Yuri Ushakov, a senior Kremlin official, that a peace settlement for Ukraine would likely require Russia to gain control of Donetsk and potentially involve a territorial exchange. This information stems from a transcript of a five-minute phone call between Witkoff and Ushakov on October 14, obtained by Bloomberg.

During the conversation, Witkoff reportedly stated, 'Now, me to you, I know what it's going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere.' He also suggested that Ushakov advise Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate Trump and frame future discussions more optimistically.

Context of the Proposed Peace Plan

The advice from Witkoff is understood to be part of a broader 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine, which has drawn significant attention and criticism. This plan, reportedly developed by the Trump administration, suggests substantial territorial concessions from Ukraine. Key elements of the proposal include:

• Recognition of Crimea, Luhansk, and the entirety of the Donetsk region as de facto Russian territory.
• A freeze of the current battle lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
• The establishment of a demilitarized buffer zone.

The plan has been described by some as heavily favorable to Moscow, with Ukrainian officials expressing concerns about the extent of the concessions.

Reactions and Official Statements

Following the reports, Yuri Ushakov appeared to confirm the authenticity of the phone conversation, telling Russian state TV that the leak was likely an attempt to 'hinder' the talks. He also indicated that a preliminary agreement had been reached for Witkoff to visit Moscow.

Donald Trump, when asked about Witkoff's reported approach, described it as 'a standard thing…that's what a deal maker does.' He added, 'You got to say, look, they want this. You've got to convince him of this. You know, that's a very standard form of negotiation.' Trump has also stated that he is sending Witkoff to meet with Putin in Moscow to finalize details of a peace plan.

Steve Witkoff, a real estate mogul with a long-standing friendship with Donald Trump, has taken on a significant role in diplomatic efforts, including brokering the Gaza ceasefire agreement. His involvement in Ukraine peace talks has been noted for bypassing traditional diplomatic channels.