A leaked phone call of Trump's Russia envoy Steve Witkoff advising one of Vladimir Putin's top aides ahead of peace talks has put the White House under pressure. The Kremlin has dismissed the leaks, claiming they are an attempt to sabotage negotiations.

Washington

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

The White House is facing increased pressure following the leak of a transcript detailing a phone call between Donald Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Whitkoff, and Vladimir Putin's foreign aide, Yuri Ushakov. The conversation, obtained by Bloomberg, involved discussions on the Ukraine peace plan and appeared to include advice to the Russian side on negotiation strategies. 

The leak has led to political backlash, with Congressman Ted Lieu labeling Whitkoff a traitor. The incident comes shortly after a US peace plan, initially favoring Moscow, was also leaked. Upcoming meetings in Moscow between Whitkoff and Putin are expected to address both the leaked call and the revised peace plan, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking direct talks with Trump to discuss key issues, including territory swaps and security guarantees.

Russia envoy Steve Witkoff advised Kremlin ahead of peace talks

The White House is under pressure tonight after an embarrassing leak. Bloomberg has obtained a transcript of a phone call between Donald Trump's right-hand man Steve Whitkoff and a key Vladimir Putin aide discussing the peace plan for Ukraine. Let's go straight to correspondent Patrick Murrell now and Pat, Whitkoff has even been called a traitor. That's right Ursula and that remark comes from US Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu. It follows, as you say, a phone call between Trump's special envoy to Russia Steve Whitkoff and Vladimir Putin's foreign aide Yuri Ushakov and it follows on from the Ukraine peace talks in Geneva. Now in that phone conversation Whitkoff appears to be advising Ushakov, the Russian side, of how best to position themselves in negotiations over Ukraine. A transcript released by Bloomberg reads Zelensky is coming to the White House on Friday. I will go to that because they want me there but if possible we have the call with your boss before that Friday meeting. That from Steve Whitkoff. Now the argument could be made that as special envoy to Russia it is Whitkoff's job to keep the Russians happy, to keep them on site and keep them on the negotiating table but it does come, Ursula, just under a week after that initial 28-point peace plan from the US was leaked and that peace plan, as we all know, although it has been heavily modified, it did initially heavily favour Moscow. Responding to the leaked transcript of that conversation with Whitkoff, Yuri Ushakov almost said that somebody was trying to sabotage negotiations. Take a look. It's unlikely that they do it to improve the relations which are now being built. It's not easy but they are being built through these contacts, including ones over the phone. They're going to keep talking, they're talking to Russia now. Steve Whitkoff is going over, maybe with Jared, I'm not sure about Jared going, but he's involved in the process. Smart guy and they're going to be meeting with President Putin, I believe, next week in Moscow. Now that was US President Donald Trump flagging a meeting in Moscow at the Kremlin between Whitkoff and Putin next week. President Ushakov, his foreign aide, says that the leaked phone call will be discussed as well as the updated peace plan which Russia has just received but has not yet had time to consider. Now on the Ukrainian side of things, President Volodymyr Zelensky says he's happy with the way talks are progressing and is now pushing for a direct meeting with Trump at the White House to discuss the sensitive points of the proposal, including potential territory swaps as well as security guarantees for Ukraine moving forward.

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Russia envoy Steve Witkoff advised Kremlin ahead of peace talks

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Ukraine Invasion