U.S. President Donald Trump defended his chief Ukraine negotiator, Steve Witkoff, after Bloomberg published a leaked phone call allegedly recorded on October 14 between Witkoff and Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov. Neither Russia nor the United States has confirmed the call’s authenticity. When asked about the leak, Trump said he was unaware of it and described Witkoff’s tactics as standard negotiation practice. He explained that a dealmaker’s job is to “sell” terms to both sides, persuading Russia and Ukraine to reach a compromise. Trump stressed that such give‑and‑take is a normal part of negotiations and denied that Witkoff is overly pro‑Russian, answering “No” when questioned about that concern.
Trump reiterated his desire for a settlement between Ukraine and Russia, warning that the war could drag on for years and that a peaceful resolution would benefit both countries. In a related development, Bloomberg released another transcript, this time of a conversation between Ushakov and Russia’s investment envoy and Ukraine negotiator Kirill Dmitriev. Dmitriev has disputed the accuracy of that transcript. Russian officials have previously accused Western media of spreading disinformation to undermine Trump’s mediation efforts.
Recent talks in Geneva saw U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators refine Trump’s original 28‑point peace plan with input from both Russia and Ukraine. Trump has instructed Witkoff to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, while U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will continue liaising with Ukrainian officials. The ongoing negotiations aim to secure a resolution to the conflict, with the Trump administration working to facilitate a deal between the two nations.
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