403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
Trump Stands Behind Ukraine Envoy After Reports of Leaked Phone Talks
(MENAFN) President Donald Trump has stood firmly behind his Ukraine peace negotiator Steve Witkoff following Bloomberg's publication of what the outlet claims is a leaked telephone conversation between Witkoff and a senior Kremlin official.
Bloomberg released on Tuesday what it characterized as a transcript of Witkoff's exchange with Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov dated October 14. Neither Moscow nor Washington has verified the document's legitimacy.
When questioned aboard Air Force One whether Witkoff was "coaching" the Russians on how to deal with him, Trump said he had no knowledge of the purported leak. The president characterized Witkoff's tactics as "standard," noting the envoy—a former real estate developer—must "sell" negotiating terms to both Russia and Ukraine.
"That's what a dealmaker does. You got to say, 'Look, they want this – you got to convince them with this.' That's a very standard form of negotiations," Trump stated. "I would imagine he's saying the same thing to Ukraine. Each party has to give and take," he continued.
When pressed on whether Witkoff was being "too pro-Russian," Trump rejected the characterization.
"Look, this war can go on for years. And Russia has got a lot more people, a lot more soldiers. If Ukraine can make a deal, it's a good thing. I think it's great for both," he added.
Also Tuesday, Bloomberg published what it alleges is a transcript of a call between Ushakov and Russia's investment envoy and Ukraine negotiator Kirill Dmitriev. Dmitriev has dismissed the transcript as fabricated. Russian officials have previously accused Western media outlets of disseminating false information designed to sabotage Trump's peace mediation initiatives.
US and Ukrainian negotiators convened in Geneva over the weekend, after which Trump announced his initial 28-point peace proposal was "fine-tuned" incorporating additional feedback from both Russia and Ukraine.
Trump revealed Tuesday that he instructed Witkoff to arrange a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, while US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll would maintain communication channels with Ukrainian officials.
Bloomberg released on Tuesday what it characterized as a transcript of Witkoff's exchange with Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov dated October 14. Neither Moscow nor Washington has verified the document's legitimacy.
When questioned aboard Air Force One whether Witkoff was "coaching" the Russians on how to deal with him, Trump said he had no knowledge of the purported leak. The president characterized Witkoff's tactics as "standard," noting the envoy—a former real estate developer—must "sell" negotiating terms to both Russia and Ukraine.
"That's what a dealmaker does. You got to say, 'Look, they want this – you got to convince them with this.' That's a very standard form of negotiations," Trump stated. "I would imagine he's saying the same thing to Ukraine. Each party has to give and take," he continued.
When pressed on whether Witkoff was being "too pro-Russian," Trump rejected the characterization.
"Look, this war can go on for years. And Russia has got a lot more people, a lot more soldiers. If Ukraine can make a deal, it's a good thing. I think it's great for both," he added.
Also Tuesday, Bloomberg published what it alleges is a transcript of a call between Ushakov and Russia's investment envoy and Ukraine negotiator Kirill Dmitriev. Dmitriev has dismissed the transcript as fabricated. Russian officials have previously accused Western media outlets of disseminating false information designed to sabotage Trump's peace mediation initiatives.
US and Ukrainian negotiators convened in Geneva over the weekend, after which Trump announced his initial 28-point peace proposal was "fine-tuned" incorporating additional feedback from both Russia and Ukraine.
Trump revealed Tuesday that he instructed Witkoff to arrange a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, while US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll would maintain communication channels with Ukrainian officials.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Most popular stories
Market Research
More Story
Comments
No comment