Last night, the political world was rocked by a Bloomberg report revealing that Steve Witkoff, an envoy for former President Donald Trump, had advised Russian officials on how best to approach the US president regarding a peace deal for Ukraine. The revelation, coming just days before American Thanksgiving, set off a firestorm in Washington and Moscow alike, with politicians and officials scrambling to respond and defend their positions.
According to Bloomberg, Witkoff’s guidance to the Russians was intended to help them navigate the complex diplomatic landscape surrounding ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The report landed late on November 25, 2025, and quickly triggered a cascade of responses. By the morning of November 26, a Republican representative had publicly called for Witkoff’s dismissal, citing concerns over his involvement and the optics of an American envoy offering strategic advice to a foreign power during such a sensitive negotiation.
The Kremlin was swift to react. Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, condemned the leak of the call as "unacceptable," stressing the confidential nature of the discussions. Ushakov’s remarks, reported by Bloomberg, underscored the high stakes and delicate trust at play between the US and Russia as they attempt to broker a deal that could reshape the future of Eastern Europe.
But the controversy didn’t end there. As the debate flared on social media, two prominent figures—Donald Trump Jr. and Kirill Dmitriev, a close Putin confidant and investment envoy—came to Witkoff’s defense. Trump Jr. reposted a claim from a Republican strategist that Witkoff’s actions represented "classic negotiation techniques to butter up his counterpart." In his own words, Trump Jr. added, "It's almost like these media and deep state morons have never successfully negotiated a deal in the real world. It's pretty obvious that nearly all of Witkoff's critics want any sort of Ukraine peace deal to fail so they can continue this war endlessly. Enough is enough!" Dmitriev, for his part, simply responded, "True," amplifying Trump Jr.'s message and signaling Moscow’s approval of Witkoff’s approach.
The uproar over Witkoff’s role comes at a pivotal moment in the search for peace in Ukraine. Just days earlier, on November 20, 2025, Axios published the details of a proposed 28-point peace plan drafted by former President Trump’s team. The plan, ambitious and controversial, called for Ukraine to make territorial concessions, accept restrictions on its armed forces, and agree to certain US guarantees and economic measures. Most notably, the initial proposal required Ukraine to renounce its pursuit of NATO membership and to bar NATO troops from its territory—an idea that immediately sparked debate in Kyiv and among Western allies.
Ukrainian officials, however, were quick to clarify their stance. Andriy Yermak, Head of the President's Office, told UNN (citing Axios) that Ukraine would "not abandon its constitutional obligation to move towards NATO in the future." Acknowledging the current reality, Yermak added, "Now we live in reality. We are not in NATO." This careful phrasing signaled Ukraine’s ongoing commitment to its Western trajectory, even as it faced intense pressure to compromise in pursuit of peace.
The days that followed saw a flurry of diplomatic activity. On November 23 and 24, Ukrainian and US delegations met in Geneva to hammer out the details of the peace plan. The negotiations proved productive, if tense, with the original 28-point proposal ultimately whittled down to 19 points. After the talks, the Ukrainian delegation announced that there was a "common understanding regarding the key terms of the agreement," and that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was expected to travel to the US "at the earliest possible date in November" to finalize the deal with Trump.
Behind the scenes, however, the clock was ticking. Reports surfaced that Trump was pressuring Zelenskyy to reach an agreement before the American Thanksgiving holiday on November 27, 2025. While some saw this as an attempt to secure a political victory before a major US holiday, others—including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio—insisted that the deadline was "flexible," hinting at ongoing negotiations and the complexity of the issues at stake.
One of the thorniest points in the negotiations involved Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO. The US proposal’s initial demand that Ukraine renounce its NATO ambitions was met with stiff resistance in Kyiv. As reported by Axios and UNN, Yermak reiterated that any such decision would be impossible given Ukraine’s constitutional commitment to NATO integration. Instead, he suggested that while Ukraine recognized its current status outside the alliance, it could not—and would not—formally abandon its Western aspirations.
Territorial concessions, another contentious issue, were set aside for direct discussion between President Zelenskyy and former President Trump. According to statements from the President’s Office, any talks about Ukraine’s borders or sovereignty would occur only at the highest level and would be subject to the approval of the Ukrainian people. This approach, officials said, was designed to ensure transparency and democratic legitimacy in any eventual agreement.
The Geneva negotiations also included provisions for US security guarantees and a package of economic incentives designed to help Ukraine rebuild and stabilize in the aftermath of war. While details of the revised 19-point plan remained closely guarded, both sides expressed cautious optimism that a deal could be reached—provided that the most sensitive issues, including territorial integrity and alliance commitments, could be resolved in face-to-face talks between the leaders.
Meanwhile, the political fallout from the Witkoff affair continued to reverberate. Critics argued that the involvement of Trump’s envoy in advising the Russians risked undermining US credibility and compromising the integrity of the negotiations. Supporters, on the other hand, insisted that Witkoff’s actions were part of a pragmatic effort to end the conflict and bring peace to a war-weary region. As Trump Jr. put it, the real issue was "classic negotiation techniques"—and the desire of some to prolong the war for political gain.
For Ukraine, the stakes could hardly be higher. With the war dragging on and the country’s future hanging in the balance, officials in Kyiv are walking a tightrope—seeking peace without sacrificing sovereignty, and negotiating with powerful allies and adversaries alike. As Yermak made clear, Ukraine’s path to NATO remains a guiding star, even as the realities of war and diplomacy demand difficult choices.
As the world watches and waits for the next move, one thing is certain: the coming days will test the resolve of all parties involved, and the outcome of these negotiations could shape the future of Europe for years to come.
