A leaked call transcript reveals that Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's envoy, advised a top aide to Vladimir Putin on how the Russian leader should approach Trump with a Ukraine peace proposal. Witkoff suggested that Putin open the conversation by congratulating Trump on the Gaza ceasefire and positioning him as a man of peace, hoping to set a positive tone for negotiations. The transcript, reported by Bloomberg, has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that Witkoff's guidance favors Russian interests, especially as the proposed peace plan reportedly aligns closely with Moscow's demands, including Ukrainian territorial concessions and military reductions. The White House and Trump have defended Witkoff's actions as standard diplomatic practice, while the Russian side neither confirmed nor denied the specifics of the conversation, emphasizing its confidential nature. The revelations come amid ongoing efforts by Trump to broker a deal between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides preparing for further negotiations.