Witkoff leaks throw entire peace talks into doubthttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/11/26/witkoff-putin-aide-call-leak-trump-diplomacy-analysis/Donald Trump arrived in office as the dealmaker-in-chief.He has delighted in choosing unconventional figures to lead negotiations in the belief that a background in the nitty-gritty of New York real estate is more useful than a career in international relations wonkery.It meant Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, were not constrained by decades of bloody stalemate in Gaza. Instead they confounded critics by delivering a ceasefire in the territory, even if it has not completely silenced the guns nor found much progress yet towards a longer term peace.But Mr Witkoff’s lack of experience may now have been badly exposed in the leak of an extraordinary phone call with a senior Kremlin official.Who leaked it and why will have to wait for another day. (Although there are obvious suspects in a Russian administration that appears content to delay and prevaricate its way through peace talks while its bombs and drones fall on Ukrainian targets.)And it is worth remembering that diplomacy is always best carried out far from the gaze of the media, where currying favour with thuggish leaders or making ugly promises with negotiators is the price of progress.Even with those caveats, Mr Witkoff’s apparent coaching of Yuri Ushakov, Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, on how to handle Mr Trump and the stop-start peace process is deeply embarrassing.He offers advice for Putin’s call with the US president (ladle on the praise) and goes on to suggest that the Russian president propose a similar deal for Ukraine as the one that ended fighting in Gaza.
>>1460759Donald Trump arrived in office as the dealmaker-in-chief.He has delighted in choosing unconventional figures to lead negotiations in the belief that a background in the nitty-gritty of New York real estate is more useful than a career in international relations wonkery.It meant Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, were not constrained by decades of bloody stalemate in Gaza. Instead they confounded critics by delivering a ceasefire in the territory, even if it has not completely silenced the guns nor found much progress yet towards a longer term peace.AdvertisementBut Mr Witkoff’s lack of experience may now have been badly exposed in the leak of an extraordinary phone call with a senior Kremlin official.Who leaked it and why will have to wait for another day. (Although there are obvious suspects in a Russian administration that appears content to delay and prevaricate its way through peace talks while its bombs and drones fall on Ukrainian targets.)And it is worth remembering that diplomacy is always best carried out far from the gaze of the media, where currying favour with thuggish leaders or making ugly promises with negotiators is the price of progress.Even with those caveats, Mr Witkoff’s apparent coaching of Yuri Ushakov, Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, on how to handle Mr Trump and the stop-start peace process is deeply embarrassing.He offers advice for Putin’s call with the US president (ladle on the praise) and goes on to suggest that the Russian president propose a similar deal for Ukraine as the one that ended fighting in Gaza.Advertisement“I told the president that you – that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal,” Mr Witkoff said, according to a recording of the conversation reviewed and transcribed by Bloomberg.“That’s my belief. I told the president I believe that.”
>>1460762Was he just saying that for the benefit of Mr Ushakov? A bit of diplomatic buttering up? Or does he really think the country that launched an illegal invasion of Ukraine has always wanted a peace deal?Perhaps most damning of all, he says that it might be a good idea for Putin to talk with Mr Trump ahead of a forthcoming White House meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president.At the time, the American president’s stance on Putin had been hardening.But after that phone call on Oct 16, Mr Trump announced he would soon be meeting the Russian president in Budapest, a meeting that never happened. He also cooled on the idea of sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.A second call obtained by Bloomberg goes on to show how the Russian side sees an opportunity for mischief, passing along their positions to the Americans without actually committing to anything.We don’t know whether Mr Trump’s special presidential envoy for peace missions was just as flattering when he spoke with Ukrainian officials. Or whether he offered similar help, advising them on how to stay in his boss’s good graces or how to stay a step ahead of the Russians.But the leak of his call with Putin’s adviser throws progress in peace talks into doubt once again, and illustrates the limits of Mr Witkoff’s understanding of Russia and its leaders.It hints at the idea that he is too close to Moscow, and fails to understand the threat from Putin.That it could have been leaked by the Russians, the Ukrainians, any number of European allies, or rivals in his own administration, only shows that Mr Witkoff’s style of thinking outside the box may be running out of time.
It wouldn't be trump if he wasn't conspiring with the russians to further Putin's interests. At least now Zelensky has an obvious out to being forced to surrender at gunpoint by trump.
>>1460759I'm so angry witkoff suggested to Russia that Putin and Trump should meet and discuss peace in Ukraine.Furthermore, it's absolutely unacceptable that he requested that Putin congratulate Trump. It makes me so angry when someone even suggests that anyone should say something positive about Trump.I have sworn my life and allegiance to Ukraine and this is literal treason to suggest that Ukraine should give up on the territories they've lost and settle for security guarantees and no NATO membership
>Having a real estate agent encouraging you to "kiss ass and get your way".Even a war criminal must've been disgusted.
>>1460759We have never, ever, had an administration this blatantly, openly corrupt. And that's a high fucking bar. Absolutely nothing they do is in done in the interest of this country.
>>1460805>>1460795>>1460774Cry harder shills. Zelensky can't continue his money laundering scheme and will have to go back to Israel. Russia would be an amazing ally for the US
>>1460807russia is only amazing at being a horrifying hellscape
If the new plan doesn't take into account at least some of Russia's interests, there's no point in meeting and proposing it to the Russians. They're not in such a bad position to accept it. The plan must be developed jointly with all parties to the conflict.With the current level of sanctions pressure, Russia could continue the military operation for at least another year.
>>1460807Post flag
>>1460809>Russia could continue the military operation for at least another year.It's in the US's best interest to let them exhaust themselves and collapse afterward. The EU will keep arming Ukraine even if the US won't.
>>1460829US can do this much faster, it doesn't need 4 years to exhaust Russia with sanctions. This war only benefits US. US is making money selling weapons to Europe. US will profit from mineral development in Ukraine after the war. US is selling energy to Europe instead of Russia. Not to mention learning how to wage war against Russia.
USA made USSR collapse 35 years ago. USA can do the same again.
>>1460829>>1460833Good posts
>>1460807I think we have enough meth and potatoes
>>1460807Ivan hands typed this post
>>1460809>Russia could continue the military operation for at least another year>couldUkraine can continue for two, just as they have for three.How's that easy conquering of Ukraine in just three days - in early 2022 - going, now it's nearly four years later, Putin & Ivans of /news/?
>>1460807Such a low effort stalin faggot
>>1460807I'd tell you to go fuck your mother but I suspect you have no idea who she even is.
>>1460869Are you still coping with how much land Russia has taken? Russia can keep this going indefinitely. The UK isn't going to ever stop buying their gas. Ukraiggers won't have a country in another two years and you'll still be posting muh two more weeks memes
>>1460881>two more weeks memesare you saying putin's goals are a meme comrade? you best stay away from windows from now on
>>1460881>Russia can keep going indefinitely No one in Russia, not even you, actually believes this.
>>1460883>>1460885Donbas will belong to Russia. Cope
>>1460891hurry up and die of cirrhosis faggot
>>1460881>Guys just two more years of the three day special operation>please ignore how we're literally burning our financial reserves and manpower by the day
>>1460892He's right though. You lost
>>1460895>heyou mean you>lostby virtue of not being russian, there are 194 countries in the world winning right now
Long story short, Russia leaked the call to bog down negotiations because they think they’re in a good spot in the war and the US doesn’t really care because either way they win and both sides lose.
>>1460912>Doesn't really caretrump is a russian agent, they're actively helping russia and Putin loves to humiliate trump because trump will do nothing.
Trump is easily manipulated by being GOLDFINGERED. A gold dildo shoved up his anus
