Report: Witkoff coached Putin aide on how Russian leader should pitch Trump on Ukraine peace plan

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump’s chief interlocutor with the Russian government last month advised a senior aide to Vladimir Putin on how the Russian leader should go about pitching the US president on a peace plan aimed at bringing an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to a transcript of the call published by Bloomberg News.

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, according to a transcript of the October 14 call published by the news service, advised Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov that Putin should call Trump to congratulate him for the Gaza peace deal, say Russia had supported it and that he respects the president as a man of peace.

“From that, it’s going to be a really good call,” Witkoff said according to the transcript.

The Bloomberg report comes as Trump says a proposal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine has been “fine-tuned” and announces he’s sending Witkoff to meet with Putin.

The White House doesn’t dispute the veracity of the transcript, and Trump describes Witkoff’s reported approach to the Russians in the call as “standard” negotiating procedure.

“He’s got to sell this to Ukraine. He’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia,” Trump tells reporters aboard Air Force One as he flies to his home in Florida. “That’s what a dealmaker does.”

But US Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who has been critical of Trump’s approach to Ukraine, says the transcript shows Witkoff favors the Russians. “He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired,” Bacon says on social media.

Bloomberg says it reviewed a recording of the call, but doesn’t say how it obtained access to the recording. The Associated Press hasn’t independently verified the transcript.

The Witkoff-Ushakov call happened a day after Trump made a triumphant visit to Israel and Egypt to celebrate sealing the Gaza ceasefire.