President Donald Trump downplayed concern over a leaked recording that appeared to show his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, advising the Kremlin on how to present its peace plan for Ukraine. Trump said the conversation reflected “standard negotiation,” as the White House pushes a new Ukraine-Russia peace effort.
Moscow Confirms Planned Visit
Yury Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, confirmed that a “preliminary agreement” is in place for Witkoff — and possibly Jared Kushner — to visit Moscow next week. Ushakov said talks would begin once the American team arrives and added that Putin would “definitely” meet with Witkoff.
Leak Raises Tensions but Doesn’t Halt Diplomacy
Ushakov acknowledged he speaks with Witkoff frequently but refused to discuss their calls. He suggested the leak was likely intended to undermine peace negotiations, while denying Russia was behind it. Trump dismissed the idea that Witkoff was too sympathetic to Moscow, saying a negotiator must “sell” parts of a deal to both sides.
Peace Plan Under Revision After Geneva Talks
American, Ukrainian, and European officials met in Geneva over the weekend to revise a controversial U.S.-backed draft plan. The original 28-point proposal was reduced to 19 points, and officials described the talks as productive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the meetings produced a “framework” and signaled he is ready to meet with Trump.
White House Claims Ukraine Has Agreed in Principle
A U.S. official told ABC News that Ukraine has agreed to the 19-point plan, with only minor issues still unresolved. Trump told reporters that remaining disagreements were “standard things” and stressed that ending the war would be beneficial for both sides. He hinted at possible land swaps and noted negotiations would continue with involvement from European partners.
Russia Cautious on Next Steps
The Kremlin says it has received the updated plan but has not discussed it in detail. Officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, warned that it is too early to say a deal is close, signaling that significant work remains before any agreement can be finalized.
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