{"id":2514924,"date":"2025-11-26T14:54:04","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T19:54:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russia-claims-witkoff-call-was-leaked-to-undermine-negotiations\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T14:54:50","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T19:54:50","slug":"russia-claims-witkoff-call-was-leaked-to-undermine-negotiations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russia-claims-witkoff-call-was-leaked-to-undermine-negotiations\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia claims Witkoff call was leaked to undermine negotiations"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frussia-claims-witkoff-call-was-leaked-to-undermine-negotiations%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2514924&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports on a leaked phone call between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian senior foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov regarding a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Russia denies involvement in the leak, suggesting it was aimed at undermining negotiations. In the call, Witkoff coaches Ushakov on how to present a peace plan positively to former President Donald Trump, advising a hopeful tone and proposing a 20-point peace proposal similar to one used in Gaza. Critics claim Witkoff&#8217;s actions unfairly favor Russia, while Trump&#8217;s team defends such diplomacy as standard negotiation practice. Witkoff is scheduled to visit Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin and discuss the peace deal. Ushakov hopes other U.S. officials will join Witkoff in future talks.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Russia denies leaking Witkoff call, claims it was meant to undermine negotiations<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2414122\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The Russian negotiator, whose phone conversation with U.S. special envoy <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/steve-witkoff\/\">Steve Witkoff<\/a> was recently published, has claimed the Kremlin had nothing to do with the leak.<\/p>\n<p>Yuri Ushakov, the senior Russian foreign policy adviser <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2025-11-25\/witkoff-discusses-ukraine-plans-with-key-putin-aide-transcript?taid=69260b1abe27e9000189eb34&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_content=business\">whom Witkoff allegedly coached<\/a> on how to pitch a peace deal to President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>, speculated to Russian news on Wednesday that the communications breach was meant to damage negotiations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3899958\/military-officers-guinea-bissau-seize-control-arrest-president-coup\/\">Military officers in Guinea-Bissau say they seized &#8216;total control&#8217; and arrested president in coup<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3899833\/taiwan-defensive-missile-system-modeled-after-israeli-iron-dome\/\">Taiwan announces $40 billion defensive missile system modeled after Israeli &#8216;Iron Dome&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3899692\/many-killed-dozens-injured-massive-fire-residential-complex-hong-kong\/\">At least 36 killed and dozens injured after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/at-least-13-killed-after-massive-fire-engulfs-residential-complex-in-hong-kong\/\" title=\"At least 13 killed after massive fire engulfs residential complex in Hong Kong\">massive fire engulfs residential complex<\/a> in Hong Kong<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;It is unlikely that this is being done to improve relations,&rdquo; Ushakov said before clarifying he would not comment on the content of the leak.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Russian presidential foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov arrives to attend the talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;I speak with Witkoff quite often, but I do not comment on the substance of our conversations because they are confidential. No one should comment on them, actually,&rdquo; he told the press.<\/p>\n<p><em>Bloomberg<\/em> leaked the phone call between Witkoff and Ushakov, which took place on Oct. 14. In the recording published Tuesday, Witkoff seemed to coach his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia\/\">Russian<\/a> counterpart on how to speak to Trump in a way that would elicit a positive response.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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&rsquo;re just, you&rsquo;re really glad to have seen it happen,&rdquo; Witkoff said in the transcript published by <em>Bloomberg<\/em>. &ldquo;So I would say that. I think from that, it&rsquo;s going to be a really good call.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Witkoff went on to suggest that Russia propose a &ldquo;20-point <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3898020\/ukraine-agree-us-peace-proposal-geneva-negotiations-russia-invasion\/\">peace proposal<\/a>, just like [Trump] did in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gaza\/\">Gaza<\/a>&rdquo; and take a more upbeat tone with the president.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Now, me to you, I know what it&rsquo;s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere,&rdquo; Witkoff said. &ldquo;But I&rsquo;m saying instead of talking like that, let&rsquo;s talk more hopefully because I think we&rsquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The source of the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >leaked call remains unknown<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Ushakov told Russian newspaper <em>Kommersant<\/em> that while many of his communications with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\">Washington<\/a> are conducted through secure government channels that no outside party would be able to penetrate, &ldquo;there are certain conversations on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/whatsapp\/\">WhatsApp<\/a> that, generally speaking, someone might somehow be able to listen to.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Critics of the administration have attempted to paint the interaction as unacceptable, claiming Witkoff&rsquo;s coaching was unfairly beneficial to Russia&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3894247\/russia-ukraine-worked-equally-us-peace-deal-karoline-leavitt\/\">negotiating position<\/a> as it continues its invasion of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ukraine\/\">Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">White House envoy Steve Witkoff arrives before a news conference with President Donald Trump and Russia&rsquo;s President Vladimir Putin&nbsp;at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;For <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepDonBacon\/status\/1993446393076498714\">those who oppose<\/a> the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign &amp; democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians,&rdquo; said Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/don-bacon\/\">Don Bacon<\/a> (R-NE).<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/tedlieu\/status\/1993469041701535768\">remarked<\/a> that Witkoff is &ldquo;supposed to work for the United States, not Russia.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump and his team have <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3899430\/trump-witkoff-russia-ukraine-peace-deal\/\">dismissed such complaints<\/a>, saying such conversations are a basic part of brokering peace.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s got to sell this to Ukraine. He&rsquo;s going to sell Ukraine to Russia. That&rsquo;s what a deal-maker does,&rdquo; Trump told reporters on Tuesday. &ldquo;You got to say, &lsquo;Look, they want this, you got to convince them of this.&rsquo; I would imagine he&rsquo;s saying the same thing to Ukraine because each party has to give and take.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Witkoff is set to visit Russia next week to meet directly with President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/vladimir-putin\/\">Vladimir Putin<\/a>, with whom he will discuss the peace deal personally.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3898872\/army-secretary-top-ukraine-russia-negotiator\/\">ARMY SECRETARY DAN DRISCOLL GOES FROM TRUMP&rsquo;S &lsquo;DRONE GUY&rsquo; TO TOP UKRAINE-RUSSIA NEGOTIATOR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ushakov said on Wednesday that he hopes other members of the U.S. government join Witkoff.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have agreed to meet with Mr. Witkoff. I hope he will not come alone, but will be accompanied by other representatives of the American team who are working on the Ukrainian dossier, and then we will begin discussions,&rdquo; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/secretary-of-state-blinken-winces-as-biden-throws-year-of-diplomacy-down-the-toilet\/\" title=\"Secretary of State Blinken Winces as Biden Throws Year of Diplomacy Down the Toilet\">foreign affairs adviser<\/a> said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Russia denies leaking Witkoff call, says leak aimed to harm talks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2514925,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25300500897415.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3817,35205,11860,4280,44704],"class_list":["post-2514924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-diplomacy","tag-leaked-call","tag-negotiations","tag-russia","tag-witkoff"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25300500897415.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2514924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2514924"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2514924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2514928,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2514924\/revisions\/2514928"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2514925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2514924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2514924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2514924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}