Talks about a possible peace in Ukraine continue. US President Donald Trump says he “believes” US envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week. Trump says his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner may accompany him.
Yuri Ushakov confirms on Russian television on Wednesday that Witkoff and other US representatives will visit Moscow.
Previously, Trump claimed that the United States is "very close" to reaching a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
As early as October 14, Witkoff reportedly spoke with Russian adviser Yuri Ushakov about possibly creating a list with a peace plan for Ukraine, Bloomberg reports, which has reviewed a recording of a conversation between them. The news agency does not elaborate on how it gained access to the recording.
Advice on conversations
The plan was inspired by the Gaza peace plan. Just days before the talks between Witkoff and Ushakov, Israel and terrorist Hamas had agreed to the first phase of the plan.
Witkoff and Ushakov discussed a possible conversation between Putin and Trump, and Witkoff advised Ushakov on how Putin could set it up.
"I would take the call and just reiterate congratulations to the president on this achievement (the Gaza agreement), that you supported it, that you respect that he is a man of peace. I would say that. I think it will be a very good conversation from there," Witkoff said in the phone call, according to Bloomberg.
The 28-point plan has been criticized
Trump says he has not reviewed the call but that he has heard that it is a "standard negotiation."
"You have to say: look, they want this, you have to convince them of this. I would think he would say the same thing to Ukraine, because each party has to give and take," the president says.
The 28-point plan first put forward by the US has been criticized for more or less implying a Ukrainian capitulation. In particular, Ukraine would effectively give up occupied territories and little else, as well as agreeing to limit its military capabilities and renounce future military alliances.
