President Trump is standing by Steve Witkoff after a leaked recording reportedly captured Witkoff advising a Russian official on how to sell Moscow’s terms for ending the war in Ukraine to the U.S. president. Aboard Air Force One, Trump downplayed the controversy as “a standard thing,” saying “that’s what a dealmaker does” and adding that “he’s got to sell this to Ukraine. He’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia.”
Bloomberg reviewed the recording and published audio and a transcript; the outlet says the tape dates to October, before an initial 28-point plan surfaced that critics say favored Russia. NPR has not independently verified the audio or transcript. Trump said he had not listened to the recording but did not dispute the way the call was described.
Critics argue the exchange confirms concerns that Witkoff is advancing Russia’s interests rather than seeking a balanced settlement for Ukraine, a U.S. partner and European ally in a war with Moscow. Despite the backlash, the White House is sending Witkoff back to Moscow to try to finalize details of the latest plan with President Vladimir Putin.
Witkoff and Trump have been friends for nearly four decades. Trump has described him as “a special guy” and “my pal.” Their relationship began with a late-night meeting at a New York deli, and Witkoff has recounted personal support from Trump during the death of one of Witkoff’s sons. He has testified on Trump’s behalf in court, helped with fundraising and handled sensitive political outreach, including contacts with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and former rival Nikki Haley, who said Witkoff attempted to broker a truce between her and Trump.
Trump named Witkoff to lead negotiations on Ukraine after previously tapping him for a Middle East envoy role similar to the one Jared Kushner held during Trump’s first term. Like Kushner, Witkoff is a real estate executive, a background that drew scrutiny for Kushner and has revived questions about Witkoff’s lack of formal diplomatic experience.
The White House portrays Witkoff as a loyal friend who gave up a major business role to serve without salary and who covers his own travel. Witkoff has courted controversy before — on Tucker Carlson’s podcast earlier this year he described Putin as “not a bad guy” and explained his negotiation style as trying to see things from the other side so “a good deal has to work fair for everybody.”
Don Peebles, a real estate entrepreneur, told NPR he has seen that approach at work, saying Witkoff looks to identify what the other side wants and to offer it, and that he can defuse adversarial standoffs to produce lasting agreements. Peebles suggested Witkoff may have more high-stakes negotiating experience than many career diplomats.
But former negotiator Aaron David Miller and other experts warn that ending the war in Ukraine is far more complex than closing a business deal. Miller, who has worked under Republican and Democratic administrations, said even seasoned statesmen would struggle to secure the concessions needed from Putin. He stressed that successful deals require a mix of pressure and incentives, and a mediator willing to apply both so leaders can justify concessions to their own publics.
“I just don’t see Putin ready to make the kinds of concessions that would be required to anchor this thing and make it work,” Miller said.
The leaked call has intensified scrutiny of Witkoff’s role and methods, raising questions about whether a private businessman and longtime friend of the president is the right person to handle negotiations that affect U.S. strategic interests and a beleaguered European ally. For now, Trump continues to back Witkoff and is sending him back to Moscow to press the latest plan.