A recently leaked international phone conversation has revealed a fascinating insight into United States President Donald Trump’s personality and its potential influence on global diplomacy.
The call, conducted over WhatsApp on October 14, 2025, involved Trump’s special envoy Steve Wittkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov.
According to the transcript published by Bloomberg on November 26, 2025, the discussion came just after the Gaza ceasefire deal, at a time when Wittkoff was focused on broader peace efforts in Ukraine following the truce.
The audio and transcript reveal the US envoy’s strategy– use Trump’s known love for praise to make him more receptive to negotiations.
The Advice to Praise
The transcript shows Wittkoff instructing Ushakov to begin the call by commending Trump as a “real peace man” and highlighting his leadership in brokering the Gaza truce.
Wittkoff told Ushakov to emphasise Russia’s support for the deal and make clear that Trump’s involvement was central to the achievement.
“From that, it’s going to be a really good call,” Wittkoff reportedly said, adding, “My man is ready for this.”
He also suggested that the Gaza agreement could serve as a model for a broader 20-point peace proposal between Russia and Ukraine, said the report from Bloomberg.
Timing Was Key
The call occurred just two days before an in-person meeting between Trump and Putin on October 16, 2025, highlighting the precision and planning behind international diplomacy.
Reuter said that when asked about Wittkoff’s guidance after the leak surfaced, Trump told reporters that such advice was a “standard way of conducting talks.”
Trump added, “He’s got to sell this to Ukraine. He’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia. That’s what a dealmaker does.”
Russia Condemns the Leak
The Russian government condemned the leak, calling it an attempt to undermine ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations. Officials described it as a form of hybrid warfare designed to weaken trust and derail progress.
Personality Meets Policy: Lessons from the Leak
The conversation demonstrates how understanding a counterpart’s personality can be as critical as the policy itself. Wittkoff’s strategy, emphasising praise and recognition reflects a nuanced grasp of Trump’s preferences, showing how individual traits can be leveraged to achieve complex geopolitical goals.
The leak also provides rare transparency into the high-stakes diplomacy surrounding Gaza and Ukraine, illustrating that careful messaging, timing, and psychological strategy are central to advancing negotiations.
