Bloomberg has published the transcript of a phone conversation between Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide, Yuri Ushakov. The conversation took place on October 14, just before President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Washington amid active discussions regarding the transfer of missiles and other weaponry to Ukraine.
According to Bloomberg, this exchange, followed by a call from Putin to Trump, reportedly led to a decision not to transfer certain missiles to Ukraine. During the call, Witkoff proposed developing a new peace plan modeled after the American approach to Gaza, including a Peace Council potentially headed by Trump himself. The plan was intended for Putin to present directly to Trump ahead of Zelensky’s Washington visit.
The published records reveal close coordination between American and Russian representatives in preparing this peace proposal. Bloomberg quotes Trump as confirming the talks, describing them as a routine part of diplomatic negotiations.
Analysts note that the nature and content of the proposed plan raise concerns about the degree of Russian influence. However, the document is still under discussion; no final decisions have been made, and the negotiation process remains ongoing.
Experts view the release of these transcripts as part of internal political battles in the US and an attempt to cast Trump’s stance in a critical light. Nevertheless, the Witkoff-Ushakov call remains a pivotal moment in shaping the ongoing agreement process on Ukraine, with talks still active between all sides.
