US President Donald Trump said that conversations between his envoy Steve Witkoff and aides to Vladimir Putin are “standard negotiation.” He was commenting on a Bloomberg-published audio recording in which Witkoff allegedly advises Russian officials on how to influence the White House.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said he had not heard the recording but described such exchanges as a normal part of the negotiating process.
“I haven’t heard it, no, but I heard it was standard negotiation. He has to sell this to Ukraine, he has to sell Ukraine to Russia — that’s what a dealmaker does. You say, ‘They want this, you have to convince them of that,’” Trump said.
Asked whether he was concerned that Witkoff might be acting too pro-Russian, Trump replied that he was not. He said Witkoff was doing his job and that the main objective was to reach a deal, as both Ukraine and Russia were suffering heavy losses.
Trump also confirmed that Witkoff is expected to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow in the coming days. He added that the negotiations on ending the war remain complex and “move slowly,” but that the sides are “making progress.”
The president noted that discussions involve territory, future borders and security guarantees, but that no final decisions have been reached.