- Category
- Latest news
“Like He’s on Russia’s Payroll”: Republicans Demand Witkoff Be Pulled From Ukraine Talks
- Authors
![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
![Photo of Tetiana Frolova]( "Photo of Tetiana Frolova")
A growing number of Republican lawmakers are demanding that the Trump administration overhaul its handling of backchannel peace talks with Moscow after leaked transcripts revealed Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff discussing negotiation strategy with one of Vladimir Putin’s top aides, according to The Moscow Times on November 26.
The recordings—first reported by Bloomberg—captured Witkoff speaking with Yuri Ushakov, a senior Kremlin adviser, about shaping a US “peace plan” for Ukraine.
Every article pushes back against disinformation. Your support keeps our team in the field.
In the calls, Witkoff suggested arranging a direct Putin–Trump phone conversation ahead of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington, floated the idea of a 20-point settlement modeled on the Gaza framework, and urged Ushakov to compliment Trump for “establishing peace in Gaza.”
He also expressed “deepest respect for President Putin” and insisted that Russia “always wanted a negotiated peace,” which he said he relayed to Trump.
The fallout has sharpened internal Republican criticism—much of it aimed directly at Witkoff and at the administration’s broader approach, which insiders say prioritizes “ending the war at any cost.”
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) blasted the unofficial diplomacy after the leaked transcripts surfaced. “This is a major problem. And one of the many reasons why these ridiculous side shows and secret meetings need to stop,” he wrote on X. He urged the administration to “allow Secretary of State Marco Rubio to do his job in a fair and objective manner.”
This is a major problem. And one of the many reasons why these ridiculous side shows and secret meetings need to stop. Allow Secretary of State Marco Rubio to do his job in a fair and objective manner. https://t.co/GFNlBKLKsD
— Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick 🇺🇸 (@RepBrianFitz) November 25, 2025
Rubio reportedly stepped in at the eleventh hour to revise Witkoff’s original 28-point proposal—written with Russian input—cutting it down to 19 points and removing what lawmakers described as its most controversial concessions.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said to The Wall Street Journal that the transcripts show Witkoff “needs to be pushed aside.” Witkoff, he said, “acts like he’s on Russia’s payroll. This whole incident has been a fiasco and a blemish on our country. He needs to be fired.”
Partial readout released by Bloomberg of the leaked phone call last month between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, in which Witkoff attempts to coach the Kremlin on how to more easily coerce President… pic.twitter.com/45Wl6uF3Dx
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 26, 2025
A second leaked call revealed even deeper coordination. In the recording, Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev advised Ushakov to draft a document outlining Russia’s “maximum demands” so that Witkoff could present the Kremlin’s position “as if it were the American plan.” Dmitriev added: “I think they won’t take our version entirely, but at least it will be maximally close.”
Despite the uproar, President Trump has defended his envoy, saying Witkoff’s discussions with Moscow are standard for a negotiator charged with selling a peace deal to both sides. “He has to sell this to Ukraine. He has to sell Ukraine to Russia,” Trump said. “That’s what a dealmaker does.”
-d916acd23fddd352ab62c6aa9dac2b46.jpg)
Trump confirmed he sent Witkoff to Moscow to meet Putin directly to continue shaping a settlement framework.
But pushback is growing inside the GOP. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell questioned whether the plan extracts any meaningful concessions from Moscow at all.
“Those who think pressuring the victim and appeasing the aggressor will bring peace are kidding themselves,” McConnell wrote on X. “Which difficult concessions are we pressing Russia to make? How does limiting Ukraine’s defenses against future aggression increase the likelihood of enduring peace? … Our credibility is on the line.”
.@POTUS is right that Biden’s weakness emboldened enemies like Putin. But those who think pressuring the victim and appeasing the aggressor will bring peace are kidding themselves. Which difficult concessions are we pressing Russia to make? How does limiting Ukraine’s defenses…
— U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (@SenMcConnell) November 23, 2025
Earlier, reports emerged that the United States’ peace proposal for ending Russia’s war against Ukraine had been substantially shortened following negotiations in Geneva.
The plan now includes 19 provisions instead of the original 28, representing a reduction of nearly one-third.
-29ed98e0f248ee005bb84bfbf7f30adf.jpg)
-e027084132fee1ae6b313d8b1d5dfc34.jpg "SBU Reportedly Strikes Russian Oil Platforms for the Second Time This Week in the Caspian Sea")
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
