US President Donald Trump has denied allegations that his Ukraine negotiator Steve Witkoff has been ‘too pro-Russian,’ calling his approach standard in diplomacy. The claims stem from a leaked phone call between Witkoff and a Russian official, which Bloomberg published but neither Russia nor the US has confirmed. Trump defended Witkoff’s strategy, emphasizing the need for mutual concessions in peace talks.
During a press briefing aboard Air Force One, Trump stated he was unaware of the alleged leak. He described Witkoff’s tactics as ‘standard’ for a dealmaker, explaining that both Russia and Ukraine need to ‘sell’ terms to each other. When asked if Witkoff was being ‘too pro-Russian,’ Trump responded in the negative.
Trump also expressed his belief that a potential peace deal would be beneficial for both sides, highlighting Russia’s military strength and the possibility of prolonged conflict. Additionally, the US and Ukrainian negotiators had recent meetings in Geneva, where Trump said his initial peace plan was ‘fine-tuned’ with input from both Russia and Ukraine.
Trump stated he had directed Witkoff to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, while US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll would continue engaging with Ukrainian officials. This development comes as Bloomberg published what it claims is a transcript of a phone call between Ushakov and Russia’s investment envoy and Ukraine negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev. Dmitriev has denied the authenticity of the transcript, with Russian officials previously accusing Western media of spreading disinformation during Trump’s mediation efforts.