NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff gave a senior Kremlin official tips on how to sell a Ukraine peace deal to President Donald Trump, a report said.
Witkoff spoke by phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov on Oct. 14, advising him on how Putin should bring up the topic with the U.S. president, according to Bloomberg.
“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 was quoted by Bloomberg as saying, in reference to the Trump administration’s Gaza peace deal.
During the phone call, which lasted about five minutes, Witkoff said he had a deep respect for Putin and that he had informed Trump that he believed Russia has always wanted a peace deal for Ukraine, Bloomberg reported.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images; Alexander Kazakov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Witkoff mentioned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was visiting the White House in mid-October and that Putin could speak to Trump ahead of that meeting, the report added.
“Zelenskyy is coming to the White House on Friday,” Witkoff said, according to a recording of the phone call obtained by Bloomberg. “I will go to that because they want me there, but I think, if possible, we have the call with your boss before that Friday meeting.”
Witkoff suggested that Putin congratulate Trump on the Gaza peace deal and say that Russia backed it and that he respects Trump as a man of peace, Bloomberg reported.
“Here’s what I think would be amazing,” Witkoff reportedly added. “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.”
Bloomberg also reported that Ushakov said Putin “will congratulate” Trump and say “Mr. Trump is a real peace man.”
UKRAINE AGREES TO PEACE DEAL, US OFFICIAL SAYS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, talks with President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet during a lunch meeting at the White House on Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
When asked about the Witkoff phone call, Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Tuesday that he hadn’t heard the audio.
“I haven’t heard it. No, but it’s a standard thing, you know, because he’s going to sell this to Ukraine. He’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia. That’s what he’s, that’s what a dealmaker does. 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 said.
“I haven’t heard it, but I heard it was standard negotiations. And I would imagine he’s saying the same thing to Ukraine because each party has to give and take,” Trump continued.
“This war could go on for years and Russia has got a lot more people and a lot more soldiers,” the president also said. “So I think if Ukraine can make a deal, it’s a good thing. I think it’s great for both, frankly. I think it’s great for both.”
White House communications director Steven Cheung told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that, “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.”
Ushakov told Russian media on Wednesday that details about his conversation with Witkoff should not have been leaked, describing the situation as “unacceptable,” according to Reuters.
It added that Ushakov said the leak was aimed at hindering discussions between the U.S. and Russia and that he would be raising the matter with Witkoff.
Firefighters put out a blaze after a Russian drone hit a multistory residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
On Tuesday, Ukraine agreed to the peace deal that would see an end to the war with Russia, a U.S. official told Fox News.
Some minor details of the agreement are still to be sorted out, the official said.
Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, a spokesman for U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, had told Fox News that Driscoll and his team met with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the framework for a Ukraine peace deal.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
A U.S. official told Fox News that the Ukrainian delegation was also in Abu Dhabi and was in contact with Driscoll and his team.
Fox News’ Ashley Carnahan and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
Original News Source Link – Fox News
Running For Office? Conservative Campaign Consulting – Monthly Rates!