A leaked transcript of a private call between White House envoy Steve Witkoff and a senior Kremlin aide is fueling political uproar in Washington, exposing what critics say is the Trump administration’s willingness to pursue a Ukraine peace deal heavily tilted toward Russia’s interests.
The call, published Tuesday by Bloomberg News, shows Witkoff assuring Yuri Ushakov — President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser — that President Donald Trump would grant him “a lot of space and discretion” to craft a peace agreement. Witkoff also appeared to coach the Kremlin on how to approach negotiations ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s upcoming visit to the United States.
The transcript has sharpened concerns among lawmakers and foreign policy experts that the administration’s diplomatic strategy is drifting perilously close to Moscow’s preferred terms, even as Russia shows little sign of genuine interest in de-escalation.
A Determined Push for a Deal — On Russia’s Terms
Despite months of inconsistent engagement and repeated rejections from Moscow, Trump has remained fixated on securing a Ukraine peace deal. Advisers say he is motivated by a mix of humanitarian concerns and a desire for a legacy-defining diplomatic breakthrough.
The president has already held eight phone calls with Putin and dispatched Witkoff to meet with Russian representatives five times, culminating in a high-profile summit in Alaska earlier this year.
Until recently, many analysts credited the administration with maintaining pressure on Moscow even while seeking negotiations. The U.S. imposed sanctions on two major Russian oil companies in October, continued providing weapons and intelligence to Kyiv, and canceled a planned summit in Hungary after concluding it would not produce results.
But the leaked transcript suggests that behind the scenes, Witkoff and Russian officials were laying groundwork for a new diplomatic push more closely aligned with Moscow’s goals. A separate leaked discussion on Oct. 29 disclosed that Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev believed the forthcoming U.S. peace proposal would match Russia’s position “as closely as possible.”
White House Defends Envoy as Criticism Mounts
Trump brushed off the leaked call as a routine part of diplomacy, calling Witkoff’s approach “a standard thing a deal maker does.” White House communications director Steven Cheung argued the transcript proved Witkoff was “talking to officials in both Russia and Ukraine nearly every day to achieve peace.”
But bipartisan criticism in Congress intensified. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican and co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus, urged an end to “ridiculous side shows and secret meetings.” Democratic co-chair Rep. Mike Quigley said the approach showed a fundamental misunderstanding of how to effectively confront Putin and maintain unity with European allies.
Peace Plan Sparks Backlash
The administration’s latest 28-point peace plan — leaked last week — drew immediate outrage for offering concessions long sought by the Kremlin. Still, Trump said on Tuesday that only “a few remaining points of disagreement” remained after additional feedback from both sides.
On the same day, Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll met with Russian delegates in the United Arab Emirates to continue diplomatic discussions. Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow soon, while Driscoll prepares to return to Kyiv for further talks.
But Moscow is publicly distancing itself. Ushakov told Russian media the U.S. proposal “has not yet been discussed in detail,” signaling reluctance to commit. Analysts warn the Kremlin may be using the discussions to buy time while it continues military operations in Ukraine.
Divisions Deepen in U.S. and Europe
The leaked conversation has intensified rifts within Washington — and between the U.S. and its European allies. Critics argue the Trump administration’s diplomatic approach is inadvertently helping Russia by sowing distrust among Western partners and creating confusion about U.S. goals.
“There’s a way to engage Russia without causing the level of concern we’ve caused,” said Eric Green, former senior Russia director under President Biden. He warned that the administration’s approach has widened divisions with Europe and Ukraine while advancing Russia’s strategic objectives.
Others believe negotiations — even if they include concessions — may be the only path to ending the devastating conflict. “Much of the American foreign policy establishment is delusional about the leverage the U.S. has,” said Dan Caldwell, a former senior Pentagon adviser. He argues that without direct talks, the war will continue to deteriorate for Ukraine.
Talks Continue Amid Uncertainty
Despite the uproar, the Trump administration is pushing ahead. Witkoff and Driscoll are expected to continue shuttle diplomacy in the coming days. Whether the latest U.S. proposal will produce meaningful negotiations — or simply further strain alliances — remains uncertain.
