Name: Trump Defends Witkoff Call: 'That's What a Dealmaker Does'
Uploaded: 2025-11-27T03:14:24.000Z
Description: Trump addressed questions about a leaked transcript that apparently shows Witkoff advising a top Russian official on how to approach a call with Trump.

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President Donald Trump brushed off concerns about how special envoy Steve Witkoff is leading negotiations with Kremlin officials on ending the war in Ukraine.

Trump addressed questions about a leaked transcript that apparently shows Witkoff advising a top Russian official on how to approach a call with Trump.

The president suggested the conversation was typical of talks of that nature as the United States attempts to broker an agreement to end the years-long conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“He’s got to sell this to Ukraine, he’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia. That’s what a dealmaker does," Trump <a href="https://x.com/conflict_live/status/1993510465721581855?s=20">told</a> reporters on board Air Force One.

"I haven’t heard it, but I heard it was standard negotiation. And I would imagine he’s saying the same thing to Ukraine, because each party has to give and take," the president added.

Bloomberg released the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-25/witkoff-discusses-ukraine-plans-with-key-putin-aide-transcript?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc2NDEwNDM4MywiZXhwIjoxNzY0NzA5MTgzLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUNkFGR1dLSkg2VkwwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJDNUNCNzIyMzM1MUQ0OTFGOTJBRkNFNThEOEM5OUY1MCJ9.cjl18_XCBdDs_fKjExmzHkX5UBrToMSLRMw1_aFc6Fk&leadSource=uverify%20wall">transcript</a> of an Oct. 14 phone call between Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s senior adviser. The call was made in the wake of the U.S.-brokered cease-fire deal in Gaza.

During the call, Ushakov asked Witkoff whether their "bosses" should talk on the phone and how Putin should approach that conversation.

"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’re just, you’re really glad to have seen it happen," Wiktoff told him. "So I would say that. I think from that it’s going to be a really good call."

Ushakov did not question the authenticity of the recordings but said that they had not been released by Moscow and were likely leaked to "hinder" U.S.–Russia ties. "It’s unlikely this is being done to improve relations," Ushakov told Russian state media when discussing Bloomberg's report.

Ushakov confirmed that he speaks to Witkoff on the phone "quite often," but refused to discuss the content of the recording, saying any talks should be confidential.

Critics weighed in on the leaked transcript, accusing Witkoff of advising war criminals on how to win the president's favor.

"For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign and democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians," Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) <a href="https://x.com/RepDonBacon/status/1993446393076498714?s=20">wrote</a> on X. "He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired."

The Trump administration said earlier this week that tremendous progress has been made in talks and hinted that a peace agreement could soon be reached.

<em>The Associated Press contributed to this report.</em>
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