The leak of a confidential phone call between Steve Witkoff—U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine—and Vladimir Putin’s senior aide Yuri Ushakov has triggered a diplomatic storm with global repercussions.
Russia has condemned the disclosure as “unacceptable,” calling it a deliberate act of hybrid warfare aimed at sabotaging sensitive peace discussions. Yet behind this single leak lies a deeper, more complex struggle: a clash between those pushing urgently for negotiations and those determined to prolong the conflict, particularly within Europe’s pro-Ukraine, pro-escalation lobby.
A Call Meant to Be Secret, Turned into a Global Sensation
The controversial call took place on October 14, 2025, through an encrypted WhatsApp connection chosen for privacy. Witkoff, a Trump confidant with no prior diplomatic experience, offered Ushakov advice on how Russia should communicate its Ukraine peace plan to President Trump. He suggested that Putin should praise Trump as a “man of peace,” reference his role in brokering the Gaza ceasefire earlier in the year and present a “20-point plan” to move talks forward.
Ushakov responded politely, reiterating Russia’s core positions: security guarantees, recognition of territorial control in eastern Ukraine, and a halt to NATO’s eastward expansion. The conversation was part of a broader backchannel effort to prepare for a potential meeting between Putin and Trump.
But on November 25, Bloomberg dropped a bombshell by releasing both the transcript and audio of the call. This wasn’t a mild leak. It was a high-grade intelligence intercept—raw, polished, and explosive.
Russia’s Furious Response: “This Is Hybrid Warfare”
Moscow reacted with unusual speed and anger. Ushakov accused unnamed actors of a direct attempt to sabotage peace negotiations and vowed to confront Witkoff personally. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov escalated the rhetoric, calling the leak a “hybrid warfare operation” designed to manipulate public opinion, disrupt diplomacy, and fracture U.S.–Russia communication channels.
Crucially, Russia insisted the leak did not come from its side.
To the Kremlin, this was a calculated act—an information strike designed to undermine Trump’s peace initiative.
Who Leaked the Call? The Major Suspects
The origin of the leak has become the center of global speculation. Analysts, journalists, and diplomatic insiders point to several possible culprits, each with strong motives.
1. The Pro-Ukraine, Pro-Escalation Lobby in Europe
This is the theory with the strongest traction.
Leading European figures—European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and French President Emmanuel Macron—have repeatedly emphasized that no peace deal should involve concessions to Russia. Their public statements in recent days have grown more militant:
“No premature peace.”
“No territorial compromises.”
“No negotiations with Putin until his forces withdraw.”
Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence has warned that Ukraine risks “imminent defeat” without fresh weapons and aid. Yet many European leaders continue pushing for escalation, not compromise.
A leaked call revealing a friendly, cooperative conversation between the U.S. peace envoy and the Kremlin?
That would be the perfect tool for European hawks who fear Trump may accept a deal they consider too favorable to Russia.
Several Western intelligence experts told media outlets that the sophistication of the leak—true audio, not just notes—suggests involvement of a European intelligence service with advanced surveillance capabilities.
The objective would be clear:
Embarrass Trump
Undermine Witkoff
Harden Ukraine’s stance
Block any potential U.S.–Russia backchannel
Keep Europe firmly in control of the war narrative
In other words:
Stop peace before it starts.
2. U.S. Officials Trying to Box in Trump
Another theory points to Washington insiders hostile to Trump’s foreign policy. The Trump–Putin peace initiative has always been controversial in U.S. political circles. If internal actors feared Trump might accept Russian demands, leaking the call would force him into a corner—politically and diplomatically.
Publishing raw audio is extremely rare. It compromises surveillance sources and methods. That implies a high-stakes motive:
Prevent Trump from making concessions.
3. Kremlin Hardliners Trying to Sabotage Moderates
A less popular theory suggests internal Russian factions may have leaked the call to embarrass Ushakov or obstruct Putin’s diplomatic outreach. This aligns with Russian internal politics, where hardliners oppose negotiations.
However, given Moscow’s intense anger, this theory remains the weakest.
Why Leak It Now? The Timing Tells the Story
The leak didn’t emerge randomly—it struck at a sensitive, high-impact moment.
It landed just as:
Trump was preparing to speak directly with Putin
Zelensky traveled to Washington seeking more support
U.S. intelligence warned Ukraine’s frontline was collapsing
European leaders insisted on “no peace without victory”
Rumors of a near-term ceasefire framework were spreading
If peace was becoming possible, the war lobby saw it as unacceptable.
The leak served three strategic goals:
1. Discredit Trump’s peace process
Making Witkoff appear naïve or compromised undermines Trump’s vision of a rapid settlement.
2. Pressure Ukraine to reject negotiation
Kyiv can now argue that Russia was manipulating the talks or using unofficial channels.
3. Strengthen Europe’s anti-negotiation stance
Hawks can claim the leak “proves” the peace talks were flawed or biased toward Russia.
The War Lobby Factor: A Battle Over Peace Itself
Critics across alternative media, diplomatic circles, and social platforms argue that the leak reveals the influence of a powerful pro-escalation faction—sometimes called the “war lobby.” According to this view, certain political leaders and media institutions in Europe are unwilling to tolerate any peace framework that does not result in a strategic defeat for Russia.
Yet Ukraine’s battlefield situation is deteriorating.
Yet the U.S. warns of imminent collapse.
Yet Europe keeps calling for more pressure, more weapons, and more confrontation.
To many observers, the message is clear:
Peace—especially a Trump-led or Russia-inclusive peace—is unacceptable to Europe’s hawkish leadership.
And the Witkoff leak fits perfectly into this pattern.
A Peace Process Under Attack
The leak of the Witkoff–Ushakov call is far more than a political embarrassment. It is a window into an ongoing shadow war—one fought not with missiles but with intelligence leaks, media narratives, and diplomatic sabotage.
Russia calls the leak “hybrid warfare.”
Europe presents it as “necessary exposure.”
Washington sees a political crisis.
Ukraine sees a warning.
But one truth stands out:
Someone is working hard to block peace—and they are willing to burn secret negotiations to keep the war alive.