However, this plan, which in its initial version had sown panic in Kyiv and European capitals because it was considered very favorable to Moscow, served as the basis for the first real negotiations this week to find a way out of the conflict triggered almost four years ago by the Russian invasion.
It's just a roadmap. That's all it was. It wasn't a plan. But a concept,' said US President Donald Trump Tuesday evening aboard Air Force One.
He was questioned about revelations of a telephone conversation between his emissary Steve Witkoff and an advisor to Vladimir Putin, Yuri Ushakov, which seemed to support suspicions that the American plan for Ukraine was Russian-inspired.
In this conversation, dated October 14, Mr. Witkoff shared advice on how to approach the American president, according to the transcript revealed Tuesday by the American agency Bloomberg.
Reporter: There were a lot of Republicans who felt the first 28 point plan was to favorable to Russia
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 26, 2025
Trump: That was a map. That wasn't a plan. It was a concept.
President Trump was quick to dismiss any idea of a problem, pointing out that this is what a negotiator does.
But Bloomberg published the transcript of another conversation, on October 29, between Yuri Ushakov and a Kremlin envoy for economic issues, Kirill Dmitriev.
I think we're going to make this paper about our position, and I'm going to circulate it informally, says Kirill Dmitriev.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg https://t.co/P0wXMFavBS
— Bloomberg (@business) November 25, 2025
I don’t think they’ll take our version exactly, but at least it will be as close as possible, he continues, in what appears to be a reference to American officials.
The same Kirill Dmitriev had secretly spent three days with Steve Witkoff and other American officials in Miami, from October 24 to 26.
Completely fallacious
These revelations have sparked a backlash, reinforcing the suspicions of critics that the American plan was, in fact, dictated by the Russians.
This is a real problem. And one of the many reasons why these secret meetings must stop. Allow Secretary of State Marco Rubio to do his job fairly and objectively, said moderate Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick on X.
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
The Trump administration was quick to deny any suggestion of rifts within the US government. American media outlets reported tensions between Vice President JD Vance and Marco Rubio, with the former perceived as more impatient with Ukraine than the latter.
The US Secretary of State on Tuesday denounced press reports as 100% false, while the Vice President said that the only objective is to prevent the implementation of Trump's program.
The fact remains that Mr. Rubio himself found himself at the center of the controversy last weekend, forced to clarify before his departure for the Geneva negotiations on Sunday, convened urgently, that the 28-point plan did indeed originate from the United States.
🔴 JD Vance and Marco Rubio hold different views on the path to peace, and whoever’s vision triumphs will leave a lasting mark
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 25, 2025
Find out more ⬇️https://t.co/cj58lcClMS
Members of Congress had reported a conversation with him in which he allegedly confided that the document did not correspond to the official position of the United States, but simply represented a starting point for discussions and included a Russian wish list.
The document, published by several media outlets, including AFP, stipulated in particular that Kyiv would cede the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east of the country to Russia, that Russia would rejoin the G8, and that Ukraine would reduce its army and never join NATO.
It has since been extensively amended.
On Monday, the White House deemed the idea that the American president and his government would favor Russia to be completely fallacious.
Since returning to power in January, President Trump has made no secret of his affinity with his Russian counterpart, even as he also expresses his frustration with Vladimir Putin. He has also repeatedly voiced his reservations about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he regularly says does not hold the cards.
