Kremlin, White House Respond to Leaked Call Between US and Russian Officials

The White House is defending special envoy Steve Witkoff after leaked transcripts showed him advising a senior Russian official on how to approach President Trump about Ukraine war negotiations.

The Call: Bloomberg (Lean Left bias) published transcripts of an Oct. 14 call where Witkoff allegedly told Russian foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov that praising Trump and initiating a call before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's White House visit could help smooth discussions on a Ukraine peace plan. The report also indicates Witkoff suggested Putin raise concerns about US transfers of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv–an argument Putin later made directly to Trump before Zelensky's arrival.

Response: The White House did not dispute the accuracy of the transcript and described Witkoff's approach as routine diplomacy. Trump called the remarks "standard negotiation." Some Republican lawmakers, however, criticized the envoy's involvement. Meanwhile, the Kremlin argued the leak was intended to undermine ongoing peace efforts and says it is too early to conclude that a settlement is close.

For Context: Bloomberg published a separate report this week detailing a conversation between Witkoff and Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev, with whom he worked with to draft a Ukraine peace plan reportedly favoring Russian interests. The plan has since been revised to 19 points, removing the most controversial aspects related to Ukrainian territory and NATO membership.

How the Media Covered It: NBC News (Lean Left) coverage emphasized the Kremlin's response, indicating that the leak was intended to disrupt peace talks and casting doubt on the imminent resolution of the conflict. Wall Street Journal (Center) highlighted the White House's defense of Witkoff and also provided details of the call's content. The New York Post (Lean Right) emphasized Witkoff's alleged coaching of the Russians and the controversy surrounding the initial peace plan.

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