The global intelligence motive (5 Eyes) would be laughable if it were not so transparent. In an effort to create problems for President Trump and the Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations, an unknown intelligence agency intercepted the call then provided a recording to Bloomberg News.
The intercept was not likely U.S-based, or the leak would be to a different media outlet (WaPo, NYT or Politico). The Bloomberg angle indicates a likely EU intelligence source, with one of the “coalition of the willing” (U.K, France, Germany, or Brussels) the most likely suspect. Given the nature of the intercept, and the intent behind the leak, the British seem the most likely of sources.
The phone call itself is generally a non-issue. Essentially President Trump emissary Steve Witkoff and Russian Foreign Policy Advisor Yuri Ushakov were discussing the best way for their two principals (Trump and Putin) to connect and discuss the potential for a peace plan on October 14, 2025.
Between the margins there’s something we have discussed at length on these pages, a coordinated messaging campaign between the Trump administration and the Putin administration with both private objectives and public statements aligned in common purpose. The call itself is solid affirmation of our prior analysis of the relationship.
As we have long discussed, both President Trump and President Putin want to end the conflict. However, the EU, NATO, British, French, German govts, as well as the U.S. congress and Ukraine want to keep the war continuing.
President Trump and President Putin both understand the nature of each other’s political position. Thus, their communication is coordinated in public with back-channel messaging organized by their emissaries.
The October 14th call between the emissaries was intercepted, and with the Trump administration having brought Ukraine into the proximity of agreement, the call is leaked in an effort to weaken the plan sponsored by President Trump, Secretary Rubio and Emissary Witkoff. Some unknown intelligence agency doesn’t want the peace deal to be finalized.
The transcript was prepared after Bloomberg reviewed a recording of the call.
[phone rings]
Steve Witkoff: Hi Yuri.
Yuri Ushakov: Yeah Steve hi, how are you?
SW: Good Yuri. How you doing?
YU: I am ok. Congratulations my friend.
SW: Thank you.
YU: You made a great job. Just a great job. Thank you so much. Thank you, thank you.
SW: Thank you Yuri and thanks for your support. I know your country supported it and I thank you.
YU: Yes, yes, yes. Yes. You know that’s why we suspend the organization of first Russian-Arabic summit.
SW: Yes.
YU: Yeah, because we think that you are making the real job there in the region.
SW: 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.
YU: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you need to solve only one problem. [laughs]
SW: What?
YU: Russian-Ukrainian war.
SW: I know! How do we get that solved?
YU: My friend, I just want your advice. Do you think that it will be useful if our bosses will talk on the phone?
SW: Yes, I do.
YU: You do. And when you think it could be possible?
SW: I think as soon as you suggest, my guy is ready to do it.
YU: Ok, ok.
SW: Yuri, Yuri, here’s what I would do. My recommendation.
YU: Yes, please.
SW: 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…
YU: 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.
SW: But here’s what I think would be amazing.
YU: Ok, ok.
SW: What if, what if… hear me out…
YU: I will discuss that with my boss and then I come back to you. Ok?
SW: 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.
YU: Yes, Yes.
SW: 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.
YU: I see…
SW: …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.
YU: Ok, that sounds good. Sounds good.
SW: And here’s one more thing: Zelenskiy is coming to the White House on Friday.
YU: I know that. [chuckles]
SW: 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.
YU: Before, before — yeah?
SW: Correct.
YU: Ok, ok. I got your advice. So I discuss that with my boss and then I come back to you, ok?
SW: Ok Yuri, I’ll speak to you soon.
YU: Great, great. Thank you so much. Thanks you.
SW: Bye, bye.
YU: Bye.
[Call Ends]
As you can see the content is a ridiculous nothingburger. The two guys who are supposed to be talking together are talking together; about the stuff they are supposed to be organizing on behalf of their bosses. {{Insert Eyeroll Here}}
It’s a “nothingburger” unless you are a stakeholder who wants to block the intentions of the phone coordination, which is a peace agreement. In that framing, the phone call provides the opportunity to shout, “Ah Ha! They’re in cahoots against Ukraine,” or something.
(Via Bloomberg) – Asked about Witkoff’s approach, Trump said he hadn’t reviewed the call but that he heard it was a “standard negotiation.”
“He’s got to sell this to Ukraine. He’s going to sell Ukraine to Russia. That’s what a dealmaker does,” Trump told reporters Tuesday. “You got to say, look, they want this, you got to convince them of this. I would imagine he’s saying the same thing to Ukraine, because each party has to give and take.”
[…] Trump said Tuesday he was directing Witkoff to meet with Putin, in the hopes of finalizing a peace plan.
“The original 28-Point Peace Plan, which was drafted by the United States, has been fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides, and there are only a few remaining points of disagreement,” the president said in a post on Truth Social. (more)
