[The following is a leaked transcript of a phone conversation on October 14, 2025 between Steve Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy advisor for Vladimir Putin. The leaked transcript was first published exclusively by Bloomberg here: https://cqrc.al/bloomberg-20251125. Transcript courtesy of and copyright Bloomberg.]
[Phone ringing]
Hi Yuri.
Yeah Steve hi, how are you?
Good Yuri. How you doing?
I am ok. Congratulations my friend.
Thank you.
You made a great job. Just a great job. Thank you so much. Thank you, thank you.
Thank you Yuri and thanks for your support. I know your country supported it and I thank you.
Yes, yes, yes. Yes. You know that's why we suspend the organization of first Russian-Arabic summit.
Yes.
Yeah, because we think that you are making the real job there in the region.
Well listen. I am going to tell you something. I think, I think if we can get the Russia-Ukraine thing solved, everybody'll be jumping for joy.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you need to solve only one problem. [Laughs]
What?
Russian-Ukrainian war.
I know! How do we get that solved?
My friend, I just want your advice. Do you think that it will be useful if our bosses will talk on the phone?
Yes, I do.
You do. And when you think it could be possible?
I think as soon as you suggest, my guy is ready to do it.
Ok, ok.
Yuri, Yuri, here's what I would do. My recommendation.
Yes, please.
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 --
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.
But here's what I think would be amazing.
Ok, ok.
What if, what if, hear me out --
I will discuss that with my boss and then I come back to you. Ok?
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.
Yes, Yes.
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.
I see --
-- 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.
Ok, that sounds good. Sounds good.
And here's one more thing: Zelenskiy is coming to the White House on Friday.
I know that. [Chuckles]
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.
Before, before -- yeah?
Correct.
Ok, ok. I got your advice. So I discuss that with my boss and then I come back to you, ok?
Ok Yuri, I'll speak to you soon.
Great, great. Thank you so much. Thanks you.
Bye, bye.
Bye.
[Call ends]