Trump defends Witkoff after leak appears to show envoy coaching Russia

November 26, 2025

A leaked audio recording from October reveals US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff coaching a Russian official on how to appeal to President Trump during negotiations to end the Ukraine war. President Trump defended Witkoff's approach as standard dealmaking practice, though the envoy has visited Moscow multiple times while never traveling to Kyiv in his official capacity. The recording emerged shortly after a controversial 28-point US peace proposal heavily favored Russian positions, including territorial concessions from Ukraine.

Who is affected

Ukraine (specifically President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian territory)
Russia (President Vladimir Putin, foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, and envoy Kirill Dmitriev)
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff
President Donald Trump
European leaders and allies
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll
Ukrainian and European populations impacted by the war

What action is being taken

Witkoff is scheduled to meet Russian President Putin again next week
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll visited Kyiv this week
Trump is holding further talks with Ukrainians
Diplomatic talks are continuing after the initial draft plan was criticized
The peace plan has been revised to better reflect Ukraine's interests and European allies' views

Why it matters

This situation is significant because it reveals potential bias in US mediation efforts, with the special envoy appearing to coach one side while neglecting direct engagement with the other. The leaked recording raises questions about the impartiality of US peace negotiations and suggests the initial proposal's pro-Russian tilt may have been influenced by Witkoff's closer relationship with Moscow. The controversy threatens to undermine trust in the US as an honest broker and could complicate efforts to achieve a lasting peace settlement that protects Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

What's next

Witkoff will visit Moscow next week for meetings with Russian officials
Trump will hold further talks with Ukrainians
Ukrainian President Zelensky is ready to meet Trump to discuss outstanding "sensitive points"

Read full article from source: BBC