A leaked transcript has raised new questions about high-level backchannel conversations after it revealed that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly guided senior Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov on how to present a proposed Ukraine peace plan to President Trump.
According to the document, the two men spoke for several minutes on October 14, discussing how Russia’s proposal could be positioned in a way they believed would appeal to Trump. Witkoff allegedly suggested highlighting Trump’s recent diplomatic achievements and encouraging President Vladimir Putin to open the conversation by praising Trump’s role in securing a cease-fire in Gaza.
The transcript also shows Witkoff proposing that the plan be framed as a structured, multi-point peace outline, mirroring the format of the earlier Middle East agreement. He further recommended that any outreach from Moscow take place before Trump’s upcoming White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a timing that could influence how the administration viewed the proposal.
Russian officials publicly criticized the leak, calling it an attempt to disrupt ongoing diplomatic efforts, though they declined to confirm the authenticity of the recording. The White House acknowledged the conversation but defended Witkoff’s approach as part of routine diplomatic engagement.
The revelation has prompted renewed scrutiny as both Washington and Moscow navigate efforts to shape the next phase of negotiations surrounding the war in Ukraine.