Posted on 11/26/2025 7:15:49 PM PST by Mariner
President Trump is standing behind his most trusted negotiator, Steve Witkoff, following the leak of a phone call with a senior Russian official, which Ukraine’s backers have criticized for what they see as the special envoy’s attempts to sabotage American support for Kyiv and broker a deal favorable to Moscow.
It’s the latest twist over a chaotic week in which the Trump administration’s behind-the-scenes dealmaking between Russia and Ukraine has spurred both optimism and questions about progress toward peace.
This includes the leak last week of a 28-point plan for ending Russia’s war that was heavily criticized as hewing to Moscow’s maximalist demands. That set off a diplomatic frenzy where Ukraine negotiated for its demands to be included, leading to talks over the weekend in which Ukrainian and U.S. officials agreed on a new set of “core terms,” leaving out major sticking points around future borders and security guarantees.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
The tone is abject paranoia.
Witkoff is out to get 'em lol
Yeah the Hill via Yahoo=BS
Not sure why the leak is relevant.
Nothing in the plan has changed. Until Rubio and Witkoff go in front of cameras and announce changes, then no changes have happened. Lots of news articles announcing changes have appeared, but until they go in front of a microphone, there is nothing new.
Tomorrow is the day. If Zelensky refuses to sign, that is his prerogative. The Army delegation, Rubio and Witkoff will head on home.
Trump has already removed the deadline.
He’s going to drive the issue to conclusion, even if it takes a few more days. He needs to know for himself if a deal can be made.
I can tell him now it cannot.
Irreconcilable differences.
“The Ukrainian partisans are pulling out all the stops to sink this deal.
The tone is abject paranoia.
Witkoff is out to get ‘em lol”
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Can’t blame them. Witkoff just spent his time helping Putin get what is no less than a complete surrender. I hope Putin pays him well.
Witcoff basically told the Russians to flatter Trump. Butter him up. Dont talk particulars of the peace deal. Just keep congratulating Trump for being a world leader and a man of peace.
They would do better with Trump who is a egomaniac with a Narcissistic Personality Disorder with this tactic than to discuss the details of the pending peace treaty.
“said the release of an October phone call transcript between Witkoff and Putin apparatchik Yuri Ushakov shows the horrifying extent to which President Donald Trump can be manipulated with flattery.”
“Witcoff basically told the Russians to flatter Trump. Butter him up...Just keep congratulating Trump for being a world leader and a man of peace.”
The Russians figured that out months ago, just as Rubio figured it out, which was why he was able to slither into the Secretary of State position, where he can be FAR MORE EFFECTIVE in undercutting Trump, as we learned this week.
Not so, Rubio is there because Marion Adelson tole Trump he needed to be there.
Putin’s got your name at the top of his list. Better check under the bed before you go to sleep.
They claim it shows a lean towards Russia - what they don’t mention is that, if it goes to conclusion, Russia will take the whole pot....
This civil war will continue until one side or the other is unable to continue.
As you pointed out, there are irreconcilable differences. This war will continue until desertions and battlefield losses make defence impossible for the army. All this talk about ‘peace’ and ‘ceasefire’ only make things worse — nobody wants to be the last guy to die before the war stops.
As Henry Kissinger said, “The lack of alternatives clears the mind marvelously.”
Not much of a fan of Donald Trump, are you?
They claim it shows a lean towards Russia - what they don’t mention is that, if it goes to conclusion, Russia will take the whole pot....
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There is a sense that the world does not know what “surrender” is.
The surrender of a head of state is . . . you lay down your arms and you inform the enemy that the country is theirs. You instruct your bureaucracy to take direction only from the victor.
This is not in the 28 point plan. Russia has not demanded this — and as you note, this is a huge concession because when they carry through to victory, they get surrender. Not just some chunks of dirt.
And yes, it is when. Not if. Because China hands magnets for military use to BRICS. Not to the US, EU or Ukraine.
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