Trump on leaked Witkoff-Russia call: He has to "sell Ukraine to Russia", it's a dealmaker's job

US President Donald Trump has commented on the transcript of a conversation between Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin's aides published by Bloomberg. Trump has said he saw nothing unusual in his representative's actions, calling it "a standard thing" and part of how a dealmaker operates.

Source: Trump speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One

Quote: "That's a standard thing, you know, because he [Witkoff] has got to sell this to Ukraine. He's got to sell Ukraine to Russia. That's what a dealmaker does."

Details: Trump stressed that an effective negotiating process always involves some degree of pressure and persuasion on both sides of a conflict. He said he had not personally listened to the released recording but considers this approach to negotiations to be normal.

Quote: "That's a very standard form of negotiation. I haven't heard it, but I heard it was standard negotiation. And I would imagine he's saying the same thing to Ukraine, because each party has to give and take."

Background:

• Bloomberg published a transcript of a phone call in which Witkoff offered advice to Russian leader Vladimir Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov on how Russia should present its "peace agreement" proposals to Trump.
• Another conversation, between Ushakov and Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, indicates that the so-called 28-point "peace plan" had been prepared by Putin's aides, and Witkoff was expected to present it as his own initiative.

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