Bloomberg has published a transcript of a phone call that lasted just over 5 minutes between Donald Trump's special envoy for peacekeeping missions, Steve Witkoff, and vladimir putin's top foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov. During the phone call, Witkoff gave instructions on how russian dictator vladimir putin should talk to US President Donald Trump and proposed a 20-point peace plan. Regarding the plan, Witkoff said that it would require "Donetsk maybe a land swap somewhere."
So, according to the transcript, after the greetings between the two, Vitkoff advised Ushakov on how "their bosses" should talk and suggested creating a peace plan, as the Trump team did in resolving the war in Israel.
Ushakov: My friend, I just want your advice. Do you think that it will be useful if our bosses will talk on the phone?
Vitkoff: Yes, I do.
Ushakov: You do. And when you think it could be possible?
Witkoff: I think as soon as you suggest, my guy is ready to do it.
Ushakov: Ok, ok.
Witkoff: Yuri, Yuri, here’s what I would do. My recommendation.
Ushakov: Yes, please.
Witkoff: I would make the call and just reiterate that you congratulate the president on this achievement, that you supported it, you supported it, that you respect that he is a man of peace and you’re just, you’re really glad to have seen it happen. So I would say that. I think from that it’s going to be a really good call...
Because - let me tell you what I told the President. I told the president that you - that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal. That’s my belief. I told the president I believe that. And I believe the question is — the issue is is that we have two nations that are having a hard time coming to a compromise and when we do, we’re going to have a peace deal. I’m even thinking that maybe we set out like a 20-point peace proposal, just like we did in Gaza. We put a 20-point Trump plan together that was 20 points for peace and I’m thinking maybe we do the same thing with you. My point is this...
Ushakov: Ok, ok my friend. I think that very point our leaders could discuss. Hey Steve, I agree with you that he will congratulate, he will say that Mr. Trump is a real peace man and so and so. That he will say.
Witkoff: But here’s what I think would be amazing.
Witkoff: What if, what if... hear me out...
Ushakov: I will discuss that with my boss and then I come back to you. Ok?
Witkoff: Yeah because listen to what I’m saying. I just want you to say, maybe just to say this to President Putin, because you know I have the deepest respect for President Putin.
Ushakov: Yes. Yes
Witkoff: Maybe he says to President Trump: you know, Steve and Yuri discussed a very similar 20-point plan to peace and that could be something that we think might move the needle a little bit, we’re open to those sorts of things — to explore what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done. Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere. But I’m saying instead of talking like that, let’s talk more hopefully because I think we’re going to get to a deal here. And I think Yuri, the president will give me a lot of space and discretion to get to the deal.
Ushakov: I see...
Witkoff: ...so if we can create that opportunity that after this I talked to Yuri and we had a conversation I think that could lead to big stuff.
Whitkoff then noted that Zelenskyy is coming to the White House on Friday (October 17), to which Ushakov laughingly replied that he knew about it.
Witkoff: I will go to that meeting because they want me there, but I think if possible we have the call with your boss before that Friday meeting.
Ushakov: Before, before - yeah?
Witkoff: Correct.
Ushakov: Ok, ok. I got your advice. So I discuss that with my boss and then I come back to you, ok?
Witkoff: Ok Yuri, I’ll speak to you soon.
Ushakov: Great, great. Thank you so much. Thanks you.
Witkoff: Bye, bye.
Ushakov: Bye.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, the US "peace plan" to end the war in Ukraine was developed in October this year. Donald Trump did not know about it until the last moment. Later, Axios reported that the document consists of 28 points and contains russia's maximalist demands to Ukraine, which it has been putting forward since 2022.
Ukraine and the United States prepared an updated and revised framework document for peace following talks in Geneva on November 23.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhii Tykhyi, said that during the talks, the American and Ukrainian delegations discussed the peace plan "point by point." The most sensitive issues will be brought to the level of the presidents of Ukraine and the United States.
Bloomberg, citing sources, reported that after the talks in Geneva, the "peace plan" was reduced by several points. In particular, the item on the provision of about USD 100 billion of frozen assets of the aggressor country russia to the United States was removed.
Trump said that he sent his special envoy Steve Witkoff to moscow to agree on a "peaceful plan" to end the war in Ukraine. At the same time, US Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll will travel to Ukraine.
According to him, he is ready to meet with putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but only after the agreement to end the war is in its final stages.
Meanwhile, the US President said that there is no deadline for concluding a peace deal in the russian-Ukrainian war, despite saying earlier that it would be "appropriate" to reach an agreement on the proposed plan by November 27, when the US celebrates Thanksgiving.
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