Russia's Kremlin aid Yuri Ushakov has denounced the leak of recordings of phone calls between top advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as an “unacceptable” attempt to undermine Ukraine peace negotiations, calling it a form of hybrid warfare.
The transcripts of the conversation between Putin's Foreign Policy aid Ushakov and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff discussed how to pitch a Ukraine peace plan to President Donald Trump.
The information was first published in Bloomberg News. The publication noted, it had reviewed the recordings but did not disclose how it obtained access to the highly sensitive conversations.
Ushakov confirmed the authenticity of the recording. He said the calls were not intended for publication and described the leak as a deliberate effort to disrupt discussions between Russia and the United States. Speaking to Russian media, he said he would raise the matter directly with Witkoff.
Some of Ushakov’s discussions had been conducted via encrypted government channels, he told Kommersant newspaper, which are rarely intercepted or leaked unless done intentionally.
However, he said that, "There are certain conversations on WhatsApp that, generally speaking, someone might somehow be able to listen to," Ushakov said.
The leaked material provides insight into Witkoff’s advisory role to the Kremlin, highlighting his closeness to Russia’s position on Ukraine. Bloomberg’s report, which included no byline or dateline, cited only that it had “reviewed and transcribed audio,” offering no details on sourcing or verification.
Ushakov confirmed the recordings’ authenticity but declined to comment on some content, stressing that leaking confidential discussions is “of course unacceptable.”
The leak raised questions about who had access to the conversations between senior U.S. and Russian officials and why the recordings were passed to a news agency.
Analysts say it could have implications for the ongoing negotiations over Ukraine and the perception of U.S.–Russia diplomacy.
Bloomberg did not respond to a request for comment on the Russian criticism, or on how it obtained the recordings.
China’s ruling Communist Party is stepping up oversight of technology firms, internet platforms and digital finance in a sweeping drive to ta...
A wave of bomb threats targeting passenger flights has disrupted air travel across Europe, forcing diversions, airport closures and fighter jet esc...
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington will end its annual financial and military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, under an agreement he clai...
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Hundreds of millions of U.S. citizens head to the polls on 3 November to elect the House of Representatives and Senate. How they vote could influence the direction of Donald Trump’s remaining 26 months in office and the outcomes of the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
A six-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-held Ukrainian town of Oleshky ended on Sunday, 1 November, after facilitating aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.
Kyrgyzstan has emerged as Central Asia’s fastest-growing economy, fuelled by a construction boom, public investment and trade linked to Russia. But with Western sanctions tightening, can the country sustain its rapid growth?
Russia airstrikes on a school used as a humanitarian aid distribution point in southeastern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region killed at least 26 people, including rescue workers and police officers, Ukrainian officials said. Another 27 people were reported missing.
China’s ruling Communist Party is stepping up oversight of technology firms, internet platforms and digital finance in a sweeping drive to tackle corruption and tighten control over the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
A wave of bomb threats targeting passenger flights has disrupted air travel across Europe, forcing diversions, airport closures and fighter jet escorts. No explosives have been found, raising questions about who is behind the alerts and whether the disruption itself is the goal.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington will end its annual financial and military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, under an agreement he claims to have reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Ukraine's negotiators will meet with Russian and U.S. delegations in Abu Dhabi next week for the first peace talks mediated by Washington since February.
Spanish police are investigating the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who died after a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a second-division football match. The case raises questions about when an on-field challenge can become a criminal offence.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment