Ushakov named the main purpose behind leaking recordings of his conversations with Trump’s representative

Aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Yury Ushakov, has commented on the leaks to the American press of his conversations with U.S. President’s special envoy Stephen Witkoff.

Ushakov made his statement to Kremlin journalist Pavel Zarubin.

Putin’s aide believes the purpose of leaking the conversation is to hinder the establishment of contacts between Russia and the United States.

“I often speak with Witkoff, but I do not comment on the content. I can talk on the phone with anyone, just as I do with Dmitriev. Why is my conversation with Dmitriev of such interest? … Someone is listening, someone is leaking — but it’s not us,” Ushakov said.

Ushakov also confirmed that there is an agreement for Witkoff to come to Moscow next week, as U.S. President Donald Trump had stated.

“[Witkoff will come], along with a number of other administration representatives who are involved in Ukrainian affairs,” Ushakov said.

Meanwhile, Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who also figures in the leaked material, told Bloomberg that the leaked recordings are fake.

Earlier, Trump commented on the leaked conversations between Witkoff and Ushakov. According to the U.S. president, the talks between Washington and Moscow are “ordinary” and “standard.”