Comment by Konstantin Eggert:
Who provided the "Bloomberg" agency with the text of the alleged telephone conversations between Stephen Witkoff, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump, and Kremlin officials? Could this leak of sensational information be beneficial to the Kremlin?
What is the Kremlin ready for?
Theoretically, yes - if Vladimir Putin has no intention of conducting any peace negotiations, but wants to continue the war against Ukraine, shifting the blame for this to the White House. And there seems to be chaos there - the left hand does not know what the right is doing. If so, this means that Putin is so confident in his victory that he is not afraid of any consequences - neither Trump's anger, nor the outrage in Congress, nor new sanctions.
However, the question arises why the Russian regime would so obviously expose Witkoff to attacks, since he is useful to this same regime? In my opinion, another version is more likely: the initiator or initiators of the sensational leak are clearly not among the admirers of the special representative of the American president. Moreover, these people most likely do not have a very good opinion of Donald Trump's own policies.
Because if we assume that the transcript of the conversations is authentic, then the story is unprecedented: the special envoy of the American president takes on the role of a PR consultant for the leadership of the aggressor country, which does not even hide its hostility towards the United States.
There are two versions: either Witkoff, for some reason and without Trump's knowledge, has completely sided with Moscow, which looks like treason, or he is so well acquainted with what the American president wants that he freely presents it to Putin's emissaries.
“Standard practice“?
The reaction of the White House press service that Witkoff did “nothing reprehensible, because this is standard practice in negotiations” clearly speaks for the second version. In both cases, however, this behavior of the US administration confirms Trump's critics: according to them, the White House has adopted the understanding that Ukraine is the objectively weaker country, and therefore is putting pressure on Kiev in order to quickly achieve at least some "peace". This would add another line to Trump's biography as a global peacemaker and candidate for the Nobel Prize.
If we accept this version, then the leak of information was directed either by the Ukrainian side, or - which is much more likely - by opponents of the current president's policy in Washington. These people have significant technical and political capabilities. In my opinion, these are most likely the Republicans and/or their sympathizers in the state apparatus, supporters of the classic policy of Euro-Atlantic solidarity and opposition to anti-Western dictatorial regimes.
Republicans against Putin
And they are the ones looking for a scandal: they want a hearing for Witkoff and Secretary of State Rubio in the Senate, they make loud accusations against the Trump administration for ties with Moscow and neglect of US interests, and they hope that this will lead, if not to a complete change, then at least to a significant correction of the foreign policy course towards greater firmness towards Russia and its allies. In general, the Republican Party as a whole cannot be suspected of pro-Russian sentiments. It is enough to look at the nervous and gloomy behavior of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in public to understand: the strange policy of the White House towards Moscow is making many people in Washington increasingly think about their future reputation.
For the active part of Trump's electorate, "peace" is really important - as an occasion to save money for domestic programs and finally leave the "good" Putin, who preserves "traditional values" in contrast to "godless Europe", to the side.
However, against the backdrop of many problems in the United States - astronomical national debt, illegal migration, tectonic changes in the labor market associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and the devaluation of university diplomas - for the supporters and activists of the Republican Party, the European war is not a major topic. And if it were not for the aspiration of the "chief peacemaker" Trump for laurels, he would never have risked taking a politically firm and consistent position towards Russia.
In Moscow they are convinced that they will persuade Washington to a deal
It seems that this is exactly what they are trying to push him towards with the leak of information to “Bloomberg“. It is not clear yet whether they will succeed. But I think that the main ally of the classic Atlanticist Republicans will be Vladimir Putin himself, as well as his entourage: they have always underestimated the strength and reliability of the principle of “checks and balances“ (the system of mutual control and separation of powers) - this foundation of American democracy, the decentralization of power, the dynamics of elections and the dependence of politicians on the mood of voters.
The Kremlin actually despises Trump's team because it does not have enough bureaucratic, bureaucratic experience, which for them is the only measure of professionalism. Moscow is convinced that they will not only be able to persuade Washington to make a deal that is advantageous to the Kremlin, but will also then get out and violate all of its terms.
The leak of information from the negotiations between Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's special representative Kirill Dmitriev, and Stephen Witkoff is likely the first salvo in the war for future American policy - a war that opponents of the current attempt to "pacify" Moscow seem ready to start.