Leaked audio of an October 14 call between Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and senior Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov unveils the blueprint behind Washington–Moscow back-channel talks on a potential Ukraine peace deal. During their brief exchange, Witkoff signaled that any settlement would require Russia securing control over Donetsk and potentially a territorial swap. Witkoff urged Ushakov to present the negotiations in a more upbeat tone and to congratulate Trump directly.
Confirmation from Ushakov later, paired with the White House’s non-denial, reinforced the authenticity of the leak, while Trump defended Witkoff’s approach as standard dealmaking. Meanwhile, the call appears to illuminate the origins of the controversial 28-point peace proposal in early November, which would require Ukraine to relinquish Donetsk entirely. Which implicates accepting a demilitarized buffer zone recognized as Russian territory, along with Russian control of Luhansk and Crimea.
As both sides quietly explore this framework, Trump has announced that Witkoff will travel to Moscow. Meaning that the senior U.S. Army official will meet with Ukrainian counterparts before a potential Trump–Zelenskyy meeting. Though Putin has described the U.S. plan as a possible foundation for a final settlement, Kyiv continues to oppose any recognition of Russian occupation or limits on its military posture.
Russian occupation or limits on its military posture.
Simultaneously, Trump pressures Moscow, publicly lamenting Putin’s refusal to end the war and suggesting the continued offensive is damaging the Russian leader’s image. The leaked conversation thus exposes a negotiation track oscillating between transactional optimism and geopolitical tension.
Reference
Gedeon, J., & Lowell, H. (2025, November 26). Trump envoy Witkoff reportedly advised Kremlin official on Ukraine peace deal. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/25/trump-envoy-on-russia-ukraine-peace-deal?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other