US-RUSSIA: Putin Aide Ushakov Talks On Peace Plan After Leak Of Witkoff Call
Russian state-run Tass reports comments from Assistant to the President for Foreign Policy Yuri Ushakov. Says that "representatives of the Russian and Ukrainian intelligence services are discussing sensitive issues in the UAE", but that "The US peace plan for Ukraine was not discussed in Abu Dhabi". Says Russia has not officially received the US peace plan, and has not yet discussed the details with anyone. However, Russia has "unofficially received several versions" of the peace plan and is in contact with the US on the issue. Ushakov says, "Russia views some aspects of the US peace plan positively."
- Ushakov became the centre of the story overnight, when Bloomberg published an article claiming to have a recording of a phone call between him and US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff from mid-October in which Witkoff appears to advise Ushakov on how to broach the subject of a peace agreement with US President Donald Trump. In the call, Witkoff advised Putin to seek a call with Trump before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, D.C. In the event, Putin secured a call with Trump on 16 Oct ahead of Zelenskyy's 17 Oct visit.
- The call is likely to further bolster views in Kyiv, Europe, and among Russia hawks in the US that Witkoff is not an experienced diplomat. They argue he is not a reliable mediator in the conflict and has become too close to senior Russian officials. Trump, however, defended Witkoff, claiming that the call was part of a 'standard negotiation'.
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AUDUSD moving to fresh session highs on these comments from RBA Governor Bullock, now up 0.6% on the session at 0.6552. Today’s extension higher has strengthened a bullish theme. Resistance is seen at 0.6574, the 50.0% retracement of the Sep 17 - Oct 14 bear leg.
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