On October 14, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed U.S. demands to pull envoy Steve Witkoff over leaked talks with Russian adviser Jurij Uszakov, saying it could undermine peace efforts in Ukraine.
Kremlin Spokesperson Statements
Dmitry Peskov said that calls to the United States to remove envoy Steve Witkoff after the publication of alleged transcripts of a conversation with Russian adviser Jurij Uszakov were aimed at sabotaging ongoing peace processes in Ukraine. He added that many people would resist such a move and that the leaked discussion contains nothing sinister, whether true or not.
Background of the Leaked Conversation
Bloomberg reported that on October 14 Witkoff called Uszakov to discuss how President Vladimir Putin should present a peace plan to former U.S. President Donald Trump about the war in Ukraine, praising Trump’s stance on Gaza and claiming Russia’s support, and suggesting Russian control of Donetsk as part of a potential territorial exchange.
Uszakov’s Response to Media Leak
On Wednesday, November 26 Uszakov said that some of the information leaked to the press was false and that releasing serious discussions was unacceptable. He noted that portions of the conversation took place over encrypted government channels rarely intercepted, unless one party intended to disclose them.
Details of the Alleged Diplomatic Advice
In the call, Witkoff reportedly advised Uszakov that Putin should call the U.S. president to congratulate him on a peace package for Gaza, emphasize Russia’s support, and respect Trump for being a “man of peace,” while also mentioning a takeover of Donetsk as part of a territorial swap.
Kremlin’s Assessment of the Leak
Peskov dismissed the leak’s destructive significance, stating it was not exaggerated, and pledged to discuss the matter with the U.S. ambassador to address the issue.
