President Trump has defended Steve Witkoff, his special envoy, after a leaked recording appeared to show Witkoff advising a Russian official on how to present Moscow’s terms for ending the war in Ukraine to the U.S. president. The October call came before the public release of a 28-point plan widely viewed as favorable to Russia. Bloomberg reviewed and published the audio and a transcript; NPR has not independently verified the material.
Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Florida, Trump downplayed the episode, saying such tactics are routine in negotiation and framing Witkoff’s role as that of a dealmaker who must persuade both sides. He said the alleged coaching was a normal negotiating approach and indicated continued confidence in Witkoff despite criticism.
The recording and its contents have thrust Witkoff, a longtime friend of Trump, into the spotlight. Critics note that Witkoff lacks traditional diplomatic experience and accuse him of acting more like an advocate for Russia than an impartial broker for Ukraine, a strategic partner and European ally. Supporters counter that his business-based negotiating style aims to find mutually acceptable outcomes.
Trump and Witkoff have known each other for nearly four decades. Their friendship is often described as personal and longstanding; Trump has praised him publicly and tapped him for several sensitive campaign and post-election roles, including fundraising and efforts to mend political relationships. Witkoff testified in Trump’s defense at one of the former president’s trials and has talked about learning elements of the real estate business alongside Trump.
Before taking on the Ukraine file, Witkoff was named an envoy to the Middle East, a role once undertaken by Jared Kushner during Trump’s first term. Observers have noted similarities in appointing nontraditional, business-focused figures to foreign-policy tasks, and some of the same concerns that were raised about Kushner have resurfaced around Witkoff.
The White House describes Witkoff as a trusted ally who stepped away from his business interests to serve without pay and often covers his own expenses. His past comments about Russia have drawn attention: earlier this year he told an interviewer that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not necessarily a bad person, and he has described his own method as trying to understand the other side to reach fair deals.
Colleagues in real estate, like developer Don Peebles, say Witkoff genuinely tries to identify what the opposing side wants and find ways to deliver it, recalling instances where Witkoff defused tense negotiations and converted rivals into partners. But foreign-policy analysts warn that brokering a settlement to the Ukraine war is far more complicated than a commercial deal. Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace observed that successful mediation typically requires both incentives and penalties and often depends on a sense of urgency felt by both parties. He expressed doubt that Moscow is ready to accept the kinds of concessions a durable agreement would demand.
Despite the controversy, Trump has instructed Witkoff to return to Moscow to continue negotiating details of the plan with Russian leaders. The decision to send him back has drawn criticism from opponents and some experts, yet it also underscores the president’s continued reliance on a close confidant to handle a high-stakes, unconventional diplomatic effort.