Kremlin Points Finger at Saboteurs in Peace Process
The Kremlin has made serious allegations against unidentified actors, accusing them of attempting to undermine ongoing peace negotiations between Russia and the United States. This development comes after a confidential phone conversation between senior American and Russian officials was leaked to media outlets.
Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that the publication of the diplomatic exchange was clearly designed to obstruct progress in peace discussions. "It is unlikely that this is done to improve relations," Ushakov remarked during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Leaked Transcript Reveals Diplomatic Coaching
The controversial transcript, which was published by Bloomberg News, documented an October 14 discussion where US envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly provided guidance to his Russian counterpart on approaches that would appeal to President Donald Trump during peace negotiations.
Ushakov strongly condemned the leak as a hostile act, emphasizing that "someone is leaking, someone is listening, but not us." He further clarified that some of these leaks contain fabricated information and described the release of confidential diplomatic exchanges as completely unacceptable.
Trump Administration Downplays Controversy
President Trump minimized the significance of the leaked conversation, asserting that negotiations were proceeding despite the unauthorized disclosure. He revealed that his peace proposal had undergone refinement and that he no longer maintained previous pressure on Kyiv to accept an agreement by Thanksgiving.
"You know what the deadline for me is? When it's over," Trump declared, indicating a flexible timeline for reaching a settlement.
White House communications director Steven Cheung characterized the criticism as exaggerated. In a post on X, Cheung stated there was "nothing wrong" with the content of the supposed transcript. "It shows what a successful negotiator does in order to get a deal done," Cheung wrote in defense of the diplomatic approach.
Ongoing Negotiations and Sticking Points
Diplomatic efforts continue with Witkoff scheduled to visit Moscow next week, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll maintains separate discussions with Ukrainian officials. According to sources, Kyiv and its allies have expressed general satisfaction with revisions made since last week, though significant obstacles remain unresolved.
The most challenging issues reportedly center around territorial concessions, which continue to be a major point of contention in the negotiations.
Conflicting Timelines and Cautious Optimism
Ukrainian officials expressed confidence on Tuesday that a final agreement could be reached by month's end and indicated hopes for arranging a direct meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy in the near future.
However, President Trump appeared to dismiss this proposed timeline, stating he would only meet with both leaders when a deal approaches its finalization stage.
From Moscow's perspective, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged against premature expectations. When questioned about whether Russia was closer to achieving peace with Ukraine, Peskov responded cautiously: "It's premature to say so."
With Witkoff's upcoming Moscow visit, the Trump administration continues to maintain pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow while signaling no urgency to finalize an agreement immediately.
