Trump Defends Envoy Amid Leaked Call on Ukraine Peace Talks

President Donald Trump has defended his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, following reports that Witkoff advised a senior Kremlin official on negotiating a peace deal in Ukraine. According to a leaked transcript, Witkoff suggested to Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov that Russian President Vladimir Putin should praise Trump's recent Gaza peace agreement to build rapport before discussing Ukraine.

Trump characterized Witkoff's approach as standard negotiation tactics, stating, "He's got to sell this to Ukraine. He's got to sell Ukraine to Russia. That's what a dealmaker does."

The leaked conversation has drawn criticism from U.S. lawmakers, with some expressing concern that the proposed 28-point peace plan favors Russian interests, including territorial concessions by Ukraine.

In response to the leak, Ushakov indicated plans to discuss the matter with Witkoff, describing the incident as unacceptable and suggesting it was intended to disrupt diplomatic efforts.

The situation underscores the complexities of the ongoing peace negotiations and the challenges faced by the Trump administration in balancing diplomatic relations with both Russia and Ukraine.