US President Donald Trump has denied allegations that his key Ukraine negotiator Steve Witkoff was ‘too pro-Russian,’ defending his approach as a standard negotiation tactic. Trump suggested Witkoff had to ‘sell’ terms to both Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing that each side must ‘give and take.’ The claims come after Bloomberg published a purported transcript of a leaked phone call between Witkoff and Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov, which neither Russia nor the US confirmed. Trump also noted that peace talks could lead to a favorable outcome for both Russia and Ukraine.
Additionally, Bloomberg published a transcript of a call between Ushakov and Russia’s investment envoy and Ukraine negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev, which Dmitriev has called fake. Russian officials have accused Western media of spreading disinformation to undermine Trump’s mediation efforts. US and Ukrainian negotiators met in Geneva, and Trump claimed his original peace plan was ‘fine-tuned’ with input from both Russia and Ukraine. Trump also directed Witkoff to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, while US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll would remain in contact with Ukrainian officials.