The conversation between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin's top adviser, Yuri Ushakov, on October 14, reveals how the architecture of the 28-point peace plan for Ukraine was shaped.

Bloomberg publishes a phone call between the two men, lasting just over five minutes.

From there it follows that the idea of a multi-page peace framework was not an American initiative, but the product of a direct Vitkov-Kremlin understanding.

Vitkov advised Ushakov to use the Gaza agreement as a model for Ukraine and to ask Putin to raise the issue with Trump personally.

He also suggested that a Trump-Putin phone call precede Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House.

In the conversation, published by Bloomberg, Witkoff is heard explaining: We have a 20-point peace plan for Gaza and I'm thinking of doing the same with you.

Russia responded. Ushakov asked if it would be useful for Putin to invite Trump. Vitkov replied in the affirmative and further suggested that the Russian president congratulate Trump on the Gaza deal, state his support for it, and present him as a man of peace.

Two days later, the Putin-Trump phone call took place. The American president described it as very productive and announced an intention to meet in Budapest – a meeting that did not take place.

Contacts at a more operational level followed. In late October, Vitkov met in Miami with Kirill Dmitriev , a Kremlin official and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

On October 29, Dmitriev discussed by phone with Ushakov how Moscow should advance its demands: Ushakov was asking for the maximum, fearing that the US might selectively accept points and make it appear that there was an agreement.

Dmitriev, on the contrary, believed that even if the US did not subscribe to all of the Russian demands, it would move towards something very close.

The result of these parallel contacts was the 28-point plan that appeared publicly in early November and which the Trump administration pressured Kiev to accept as the basis for an agreement.

Putin himself stated on November 21st that the plan could form the basis for a final settlement, but stressed that it had not yet been discussed in detail with Moscow, insisting that Kiev and the Europeans were living under illusions about Russia's strategic defeat.

The pressure on Ukraine became immediate. According to sources cited by Bloomberg, American officials threatened to cut off critical intelligence support to the Ukrainian military if Zelensky rejected the plan.

The interventions of Secretary of State Marco Rubio tempered this stance, leading to a slowdown in the processes and some modifications in favor of Kiev.

• The plan's main provisions - as reflected in Vitkov's contacts with the Kremlin - constitute a victory for Moscow: Ukrainian withdrawal from parts of Donbas that Russia has not militarily occupied, transforming them into a demilitarized neutral zone with international recognition as Russian sovereignty. De facto recognition of the Russian annexation of Crimea, Lugansk and Donetsk. Freezing of the remaining lines of contact, including the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions.

In their conversation, Vitkov appears confident that such trade-offs can lead to an agreement. I know what it will take for a peace deal, he says. Donetsk and perhaps a land swap somewhere else.

He claims that he has a lot of discretion from President Trump.

The transcript of the Vitkov – Ushakov conversation

The following text is a transcript of the phone call between Wittkoff and Ushakov on October 14. The transcript was made after Bloomberg reviewed an audio recording of the call.

[the phone rings]

Steve Witkoff: Hi, Yuri.

Yuri Ushakov: Yes Steve, hello, how are you?

Witkov: Hello Yuri. How are you?

Usakov: I'm fine. Congratulations, my friend.

Witkoff: Thank you.

Ushakov: You did a great job. Just a great job. Thank you very much. Thank you, thank you.

Witkov: Thank you Yuri and thank you for your support. I know your country supported it and I thank you.

Ushakov: Yes, yes, yes. Yes. You know, that's why we suspended the organization of the first Russian-Arab summit.

Witkoff: Yes.

Ushakov: Yes, because we believe that you are doing the real work there in the region.

Witkov: Well, listen. I'll tell you something. I think, I think if we manage to solve the Russia-Ukraine issue, everyone will be jumping for joy.

Ushakov: Yes, yes, yes. Yes, you only have to solve one problem. [laughs]

Witkoff: Which one?

Ushakov: The Russian-Ukrainian war.

Witkoff: I know! How do we solve this one?

Ushakov: My friend, I just want your advice. Do you think it would be helpful if our bosses spoke on the phone?

Witkoff: Yes, I believe so.

Ushakov: You believe so. And when do you think it could happen?

Witkoff: I think as soon as you suggest it, my man is ready to do it.

Ushakov: Okay, okay.

Witkov: Yuri, Yuri, here's what I would do. My own recommendation.

Ushakov: Yes, please.

Witkoff: I would make the call and reiterate that you congratulate the president on this achievement, that you supported it, that you supported it, that you respect that he is a man of peace and that you are really glad to see it happen. That's what I would say. I think a really good call will come out of this. Why – let me tell you what I told the president. I told the president that you, that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace agreement. That's my belief. I told the president that I believe that. And I think the point is that we have two nations that are struggling to come to terms, and when they do, we will have a peace agreement. I even think that maybe we can come up with a 20-point peace plan, like we did in Gaza. We put together a 20-point Trump plan, which was 20 points for peace, and I think we might do the same with you. My point is this...

Ushakov: Okay, okay my friend. I think this is exactly the point that our leaders can discuss. Steve, I agree with you that he will congratulate, he will say that Mr. Trump is a real man of peace and so on. That's what he will say.

Witkoff: But here's what I think would be awesome.

Ushakov: Okay, okay.

Witkoff: What would happen, what would happen… listen to me…

Ushakov: I'll discuss this with my leader and then get back to you. Okay?

Witkoff: Yeah, because listen to what I'm saying. I just want you to say, maybe say this to President Putin, because you know I have the deepest respect for President Putin.

Ushakov: Yes, yes.

Witkoff: Maybe he could say to President Trump: You know, Steve and Yuri discussed a very similar 20-point plan for peace, and that might help move things along a little bit. We're open to things like that - to explore what it would take to make a peace deal. Now, I to you, I know what it would take to make a peace deal: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere. But I say, instead of talking like that, let's talk more optimistically, because I believe that we will reach an agreement here. And I believe, Yuri, that the President will give me a lot of space and discretion to reach an agreement.

Ushakov: I understand…

Witkoff: …so if we can create this opportunity that after, I will say that I spoke with Yuri and we had a conversation, I think this can lead to big things.

Ushakov: Okay, that sounds good. That sounds good.

Witkov: And one more thing: Zelensky is coming to the White House on Friday.

Witkoff: I'm going to this meeting because they want me there, but I think if possible the call with your leader should be made before the meeting on Friday.

Ushakov: Before, before – yes?

Witkoff: Right.

Usakov: Great, great. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Witkoff: Hi, hi.

Ushakov: Hello.

[End of call]

The transcript of the Ushakov – Dmitriev conversation

The following is a transcript of a phone call on October 29th between Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, economic advisor to the Russian president.

The transcript was released after Bloomberg reviewed a recording of the call.

Ushakov: Hello.

Dmitriev: Yuri Viktorovich.

Ushakov: Yes, Kirill Alexandrovich, I've sent everything there. We'll talk tomorrow.

Dmitriev: Well, great, great. Yes, yes, yes. I flew to Saudi Arabia. But it seems to me that this is very important, because it is really a very good way forward.

Ushakov: Well, we need the maximum, don't you think? What do you think? Otherwise, what's the point of transferring anything?

Dmitriev: No, look. I think we'll just make this document from our own position, and I'll pass it along unofficially, making it clear that it's all unofficial. And let them do something like theirs. But, I don't think they'll take our version exactly, but at least it'll be as close to it as possible.

Ushakov: Well, that's exactly the point. They might not take [the text] and say that it was agreed with us. That's what I'm afraid of.

Dmitriev: No, no, no. I'll say it exactly as you say it, word for word.

Ushakov: They might distort it later, that's all. There is that risk. There is. Well, okay, never mind. We'll see.

Dmitriev: Yes, it seems to me that later you can talk to Steve about this document. We will do everything carefully.