Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump

[demmiblue]

Source: Bloomberg

US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.

In an Oct. 14 phone call that lasted a little over five minutes, Witkoff advised Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, on how the Russian leader should broach the issue with Trump. His guidance included suggestions on setting up a Trump-Putin call before Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s White House visit later that week and using the Gaza agreement as a way in.

“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 a recording of the conversation reviewed and transcribed by Bloomberg.

A White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, acknowledged receipt of a request for comment and didn’t immediately respond. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov didn’t immediately respond to comment.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-25/witkoff-advised-russia-on-how-to-pitch-ukraine-plan-to-trump?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc2NDEwNDg3MSwiZXhwIjoxNzY0NzA5NjcxLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUNjhNOFVLSUpIQkwwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiI1M0IxOTg2MzRBMTY0MzAyODYwRUM1NjAxREJCNDYxQSJ9.-YQkaJNzAcQRGfhx35NuRnE9Stqa_-KNuQio-iXAvJE&leadSource=uverify%20wall

---

Three things about the Witkoff tapes:

1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.

2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.

3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.

— Simon Rosenberg (@simonwdc.bsky.social) 2025-11-25T20:40:13.334Z

[PSPS]

1. LOL. "the triumph of the Gaza peace deal" LOL

Last I looked, "Bibi" is still bombing people every day. I guess this is the magic of negotiating with someone whose background is limited to real estate schemes.

[Bayard]

2. The Gaza plan is not one to hold up as a good example,

And I think Pres. Zelensky is a lot smarter than that, especially in regards to trump threatening him.

[ananda]

3. Beat me to it.

So yeah. They're still "preparing" it for Jared
and Trump to take over.

[Emrys]

4. The article's paywalled, but

Last edited Tue Nov 25, 2025, 06:53 PM - Edit history (1)

there's an archived version here: https://archive.ph/2025.11.25-195159/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-25/witkoff-advised-russia-on-how-to-pitch-ukraine-plan-to-trump#selection-1533.0-1537.356

The full article summarizes the intercepted phone call. Unfortunately, Bloomberg's full transcript of the call is also paywalled, but key snippets are being revealed online.

Among other things, this all demonstrates what a rube and totally out of his depth Witkoff is to be caught out like this, and that Dmitriev, who evidently leaked the "28-point plan" to Axios without warning Witkoff, to move things along in his desired direction, isn't as smart as he likes to think he is

I've posted an OP about all this in General Discussion: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220831079

[Emrys]

5. Here's the transcript of the call between Witkoff and Ushakov, which has now been posted on Twitter:

[phone rings]

Steve Witkoff: Hi Yuri.

Yuri Ushakov: Yeah Steve hi, how are you?

SW: Good Yuri. How you doing?

YU: I am ok. Congratulations my friend.

SW: Thank you.

YU: You made a great job. Just a great job. Thank you so much. Thank you, thank you.

SW: Thank you Yuri and thanks for your support. I know your country supported it and I thank you.

YU: Yes, yes, yes. Yes. You know that’s why we suspend the organization of first Russian-Arabic summit.

SW: Yes.

YU: Yeah, because we think that you are making the real job there in the region.

SW: Well listen. I am going to tell you something. I think, I think if we can get the Russia-Ukraine thing solved, everybody’ll be jumping for joy.

YU: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you need to solve only one problem. [laughs]

SW: What?

YU: Russian-Ukrainian war.

SW: I know! How do we get that solved?

YU: My friend, I just want your advice. Do you think that it will be useful if our bosses will talk on the phone?

SW: Yes, I do.

YU: You do. And when you think it could be possible?

SW: I think as soon as you suggest, my guy is ready to do it.

YU: Ok, ok.

SW: Yuri, Yuri, here’s what I would do. My recommendation.

YU: Yes, please.

SW: I would make the call and just reiterate that you congratulate the president on this achievement, that you supported it, you supported it, that you respect that he is a man of peace and you’re just, you’re really glad to have seen it happen. So I would say that. I think from that it’s going to be a really good call.

Because — let me tell you what I told the President. I told the president that you - that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal. That’s my belief. I told the president I believe that. And I believe the question is — the issue is is that we have two nations that are having a hard time coming to a compromise and when we do, we’re going to have a peace deal. I’m even thinking that maybe we set out like a 20-point peace proposal, just like we did in Gaza. 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. My point is this...

YU: Ok, ok my friend. I think that very point our leaders could discuss. Hey Steve, I agree with you that he will congratulate, he will say that Mr. Trump is a real peace man and so and so. That he will say.

SW: But here’s what I think would be amazing.

YU: Ok, ok.

SW: What if, what if... hear me out...

YU: I will discuss that with my boss and then I come back to you. Ok?

SW: Yeah because listen to what I’m saying. I just want you to say, maybe just to say this to President Putin, because you know I have the deepest respect for President Putin.

YU: Yes, Yes.

SW: Maybe he says to President Trump: you know, Steve and Yuri discussed a very similar 20-point plan to peace and that could be something that we think might move the needle a little bit, we’re open to those sorts of things — to explore what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done. 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. But I’m saying instead of talking like that, let’s talk more hopefully because I think we’re going to get to a deal here. And I think Yuri, the president will give me a lot of space and discretion to get to the deal.

YU: I see...

SW: ...so if we can create that opportunity that after this I talked to Yuri and we had a conversation I think that could lead to big stuff. Notice how they laugh at Zelensky.

YU: Ok, that sounds good. Sounds good.

SW: And here’s one more thing: Zelenskiy is coming to the White House on Friday.

YU: I know that. [chuckles]

SW: I will go to that meeting because they want me there, but I think if possible we have the call with your boss before that Friday meeting.

YU: Before, before — yeah?

SW: Correct.

YU: Ok, ok. I got your advice. So I discuss that with my boss and then I come back to you, ok?

SW: Ok Yuri, I’ll speak to you soon.

YU: Great, great. Thank you so much. Thanks you.

SW: Bye, bye.

YU: Bye

[Call Ends]

[A-Schwarzenegger]

7. Thank, Emrys. So they agree trump is a childish moron

who laps up praise, and everybody's laughing at Zelensky,
and Witkoff works for putin as much as for trump, and
what could go wrong. Damn, i hope Zelensky/Ukraine dont fold
to trump's and putin's call for, basically, the end of independent Ukraine.

[Emrys]

10. I do hope Levitt's PTSD isn't playing up

She's going to need a thesaurus for all the imaginative insults she's going to have to dish out to cry "Squirrel!" if the media are at all on the ball at the press call (I assume there's one scheduled).

If Trump gets asked, there's going to be a whole herd of flying piggies.

Oh, and Bloomsberg is now fake news, if it wasn't already. Thought I'd get that in before they do.

[Emrys]

12. In case anyone was wondering how the Trump administration's going to play this,

wonder no more:

Update 6:30pm: The White House this evening put out a statement backing Witkoff.

“This story proves one thing: Special Envoy Witkoff talks to officials in both Russia and Ukraine nearly every day to achieve peace, which is exactly what President Trump appointed him to do,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said.

Hell, it might even work ...

Nah.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

13. I.e., "Don't pay any attention to the actual words in the phone call."

[Emrys]

14. That's actually an accurate paraphrase of what Trump said when asked about it on Trumpforce 1:

Aaron Rupar
@atrupar

Q: Have you heard this audio that Bloomberg has of Witkoff coaching the Russians on how to appeal to you?

TRUMP: That's a standard thing. He's gotta sell this to Ukraine, he's gonna sell Ukraine to Russia. That's what a dealmaker does. I haven't heard it but I heard it was standard negotiation.

It also looks like he's abandoned any attempt to do phrasing any more.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

15. "... he's gonna sell Ukraine to Russia."

Oops.

[calimary]

9. Fuck!!!

[Karadeniz]

6. Remember nixons chinese emissary who interfered with vietnamese peace talks

During the war? That was treason. I see no reason this doesn't meet the legal standard.

[calimary]

8. Sleeping with the enemy, Witkoff?

Last edited Wed Nov 26, 2025, 04:25 AM - Edit history (1)

What’s in it for you? (Probably A LOT!!!)

[Emrys]

11. To fill out the picture, here's a Bloomberg transcript of a second call,

this time between Dmitriev and Ushakov:

Ushakov: Hallo.

Dmitriev: Yuri Viktorovich.

Ushakov: Yes, Kirill Aleksandrovich, well, I’ve sent everything there. We’ll talk tomorrow.

Dmitriev: Well, great, great. Yes, yes, yes. I flew to Saudi Arabia. But it seems to me it’s very important, because it’s a really good way forward.

Ushakov: Well, we need the maximum, don’t you think? What do you think? Otherwise, what’s the point of passing anything on?

Dmitriev: No, look. I think we’ll just make this paper from our position, and I’ll informally pass it along, making it clear that it’s all informal. And let them do like their own. But, I don’t think they’ll take exactly our version, but at least it’ll be as close to it as possible.

Ushakov: Well, that’s exactly the point. They might not take and say that it was agreed with us. That’s what I’m afraid of.

Dmitriev: No, no, no. I’ll say it exactly as you say it, word for word.

Ushakov: They might twist it later, that’s all. There is that risk. There is. Well, alright, never mind. We’ll see.

Dmitriev: Yeah, it seems to me you can talk later with Steve about this paper. We will do everything neatly.

Ushakov: [Unclear]

Dmitriev: Thank you so much, Yuri Viktorovich. Thank you so much, thank you. Goodbye

https://archive.ph/2025.11.25-200649/https:/www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-25/putin-advisers-discuss-plans-for-dealing-with-trump-transcript#selection-1547.0-1575.152

[gfarber]

16. Kremlin Talking Points

There once was a tale dark and gritty,
Of calling a mogul a ditty;
But Witkoff, you’ll find,
Has a far deeper bind—
Three decades in Russia’s committee.

He wasn’t just waving a flag,
Nor a casual Moscow-tag wag;
His roots and his ties
Make the “peace plan” no surprise—
Continuity dressed up as swag.

When Manhattan turned into a drain
For post-Soviet criminal gain,
Two climbers stood tall—
Witkoff, Trump in the hall—
Both rising on money not plain.

In Trump Tower the buyers were bold:
Mobsters, launderers, deals bought in gold;
With no questions asked
And suitcases tasked—
A welcome that never grew cold.

While Trump sold the condos for cash,
Witkoff flipped office-space stash;
One pipeline they rode
Where Kremlin funds flowed—
Two fortunes in one mingled splash.

And now he’s the Russia-rend guide,
No expertise riding beside;
Just networks that lean
Toward the Kremlin machine—
And a “wishlist” the U.S. applied.

Remember when Manafort met
Kilimnik to quietly set
A plan Moscow blessed—
Kyiv crushed, sanctions stressed—
The playbook? Still running. You bet.

Trump claims that the war’s on his name,
Though the timeline exposes the game;
He’d heard, more than twice,
The “peace plan” advice—
Yet insists history’s wrong all the same.

Now another new plan hits the stage,
But its points are the old Kremlin page;
Not novel, not bright—
Just the same Moscow bite
Rewrapped as diplomatic sage.

There were meetings with Putin alone,
No transcript, no staff in the zone;
Notes vanished from sight
No outcomes were bright.
A mystery carved into stone.

Now again it’s the same paraphrase:
Closed doors, off-record pathways;
A Kremlin-U.S. deal
Where Ukraine gets no wheel—
And no sunlight allowed in the maze.

Ukraine must report every breath,
While Moscow is shielded from depth;
Two weeks for the czar,
But scrutiny far
Is deemed diplomatic death.

His lines echo Moscow’s refrain:
“Give territory, sanctions are pain.”
Back in ’18 he’d say
Sanctions got in the way—
A consistency hard to explain.

The crimes he omits from his stance—
The strikes, and the kids sent to camps;
The genocide threat
He conveniently forgets—
A silence that’s louder than chants.

Some say it’s just deals they pursue,
But those deals were old, not anew;
Appease and apply
Pressure on the wrong side—
Declare “peace,” and call it true.

He grew in an era defined
By laundering dressed up as “fine”;
The same very pool
That Manafort used—
A network that never resigned.

They claim he’s just commerce and stocks,
But he’s shaping the NATO toolbox;
Off-the-record he steers
U.S. posture and gears—
A policymaker in socks.

Manafort, Kilimnik—then him;
The pattern grows clearer, not dim:
Each “peace plan” alike,
Each meeting unsliced—
A rhythm too steady to skim.

He echoes the Kremlin outright,
Opposing EU security’s plight;
Negotiating alone,
Without Kyiv on the phone—
And demands fall on Ukraine by rite.

“Give land,” “You can’t win,” he repeats;
Kremlin goals dressed as thoughtful critiques;
Not opinions he lends,
But objectives he sends—
In the same old familiar beats.

From the ’90s through MAGA’s parade,
The same Russian channels were laid;
Now 2025
Sees that pipeline revived—
A “new” plan from old debts repaid.

Not spies, as the rumor may run,
But vessels whose shaping was done
In networks designed
By Moscow in kind—
Influence baked in the sun.

So the question is narrower still:
Why someone so shaped by that mill
Is guiding U.S. aims
In this Russia-Ukraine game—
And why we ignore it at will.

For he whispered to Moscow the key:
“How to shape what the president’ll see.”
And what came to pass?
“Give them land—it won’t last.”
Or “Why not just give them the whole country?”

[Kid Berwyn]

17. Traitors who betray traitors are the richest traitors of all.

And Vlad gets bailed out again.

[meow2u3]

18. K&R with disgust for exposure

[blue-wave]

19. Witkoff is a Russian agent

I can't conclude anything else. The image of him placing his hand over his heart when he first saw Putin at a previous meeting keeps repeating in me. He must be fired.