A leaked recording that reportedly shows US special envoy Steve Witkoff advising a Russian official on how to appeal to President Trump has stirred controversy in Washington.
President Trump told reporters he had not listened to the audio but defended Witkoff, saying the envoy was doing what a dealmaker does to promote a peace plan.
Bloomberg published a transcript of a call dated 14 October in which Witkoff is said to have coached Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy aide to Vladimir Putin, on how to frame a conversation to win Trump’s favor.
The BBC has not independently verified the recording.
In the reported exchange, the two men discussed steps toward ending the war and whether it would help to arrange a call between Trump and Putin.
Witkoff reportedly encouraged the Russians to praise Trump’s role and suggested putting forward a detailed, multi-point proposal similar to one used in other conflicts.
He also urged a call between the two presidents before Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky’s planned White House visit.
Witkoff has travelled to Moscow multiple times this year and is due to meet President Putin next week.
He has not held talks in Kyiv in his role as special envoy, although other US officials, including army secretary Dan Driscoll, have traveled there.
The leak came shortly after a 28-point draft US peace plan drew criticism for aligning closely with Russian demands, including proposals affecting territory in eastern Ukraine.
That draft was revised after pushback from Kyiv and European allies; Zelensky said he is willing to discuss unresolved "sensitive points" with Trump.
Russian officials responded angrily to the disclosures.
Ushakov suggested the leak was intended to disrupt relations, while Kirill Dmitriev — who reportedly met Witkoff in Miami — accused media outlets of running coordinated smear campaigns.
Bloomberg also released a separate transcript of a conversation between Ushakov and Dmitriev in which Dmitriev discussed circulating an informal document representing Russia’s stance and letting others draft their own version.
Tensions around the plan coincided with a lengthy phone call between Trump and Putin that took place as Zelensky was en route to Washington.
Trump had earlier hinted at supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine but later warned such weapons could escalate the conflict and said he believed Putin wanted to end the war.
The controversy underscores the delicate balance US officials are trying to strike between negotiating an end to the fighting and maintaining credibility with Ukraine and European partners.
With Witkoff’s Moscow trip imminent, diplomats face renewed scrutiny over the US role in brokering any deal.
