From Media ITE / Yahoo!News:
"‘Major Problem’: House Republican Rips Trump Administration’s ‘Secret Meetings’ With Russia
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) warned President Donald Trump’s administration that he has a “major problem” after United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s conversation with his Russian counterpart was leaked and published by Bloomberg News.
“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,” Fitzpatrick wrote on X on Tuesday.
The message was in response to an exclusive Bloomberg report based on audio recordings. According to the report, Witkoff told Yuri Ushakov, senior advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, “Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere.”
Witfkoff reportedly continued, “But I’m saying instead of talking like that, let’s talk more hopefully because I think we’re going to get to a deal here.”
During the call, Witkoff said it would be beneficial for Trump and Putin to speak on the phone soon. He then gave pointers on how to handle the president.
“I would make the call and just reiterate that you congratulate the president on this achievement, that you supported it, you supported it, that you respect that he is a man of peace and you’re just, you’re really glad to have seen it happen. So I would say that. I think from that it’s going to be a really good call,” he said.
Witkoff, according to the report, said he would receive “a lot of space and discretion to get to the deal,” meaning a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine."
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More from the Hill / Yahoo!News:
"Bacon says Witkoff ‘cannot be trusted to lead’ Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations
...Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said Tuesday that special envoy Steve Witkoff “cannot be trusted” to lead ceasefire negotiations between the administration, Russia and Ukraine.
“For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign & democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians,” Bacon, a staunch backer of Ukraine, wrote on the social platform X. “He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations.
“Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired.”
Bacon’s remarks came hours after Bloomberg reported Witkoff instructed a Russian official on how Russian President Vladimir Putin should propose a peace plan to President Trump. It also came hours before Trump said that his envoy will likely meet with the Russian leader in Moscow next week.
During an Oct. 14 conversation, Witkoff reportedly told Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy aide to Putin, that he thinks the three sides can agree to a plan similar to the 20-point proposal agreed to by Israel and Hamas days earlier.
Witkoff also told Ushakov to direct Putin to congratulate Trump on brokering the deal in the Middle East and to call the president “a man of peace.”
Trump and Putin spoke via phone Oct. 16, a day before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with his American counterpart at the White House.
The president told reporters on Air Force One on Tuesday that while he was unaware of the phone call, it is “standard” practice.
“[Witkoff has] got to sell this Ukraine. He’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia. That’s what a dealmaker does,” Trump said.
The president added that Witkoff, and perhaps his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will likely meet with Putin in Moscow after Thanksgiving. The Hill has reached out to the State Department for comment on whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio will also attend.
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