The author of the Resurgam Telegram channel discussed the issue.The source of the Bloomberg leak remains unclear. Theories abound: Moscow operatives engaged in internal power struggles between the Lavrov and Dmitriev factions, competing U.S. forces battling for influence following reports of chaos within the American delegation at Swiss negotiations, Ukrainian intelligence, or other actors entirely. The truth may never emerge, but the identity of the leaker matters less than the implications of the disclosure itself.What's evident is that this leak appears far from accidental. The timing is particularly damaging for Witkoff, coming at a moment when media attention is laser-focused on unfolding diplomatic events. More significantly, the disclosure surfaced just as reports indicated Witkoff would return to the Kremlin, effectively undermining the legitimacy of any agreements he might broker there. The audience for this scandal extends beyond Washington and Moscow—European allies are watching closely, as are key U.S. partners including Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.An intriguing detail emerged before the leak broke. In a recent speech, Trump stated: "I received a full report on the progress achieved together (from) Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles."The inclusion of Wiles in this context is unusual. She rarely features in discussions about peace negotiations, but her presence may be telling. Wiles managed Trump's election campaign and has long served as a gatekeeper, protecting Trump from his own impulses and shielding him from advisors who might cause critical damage.With midterm elections on the horizon, Wiles is gearing up for another campaign cycle with the same mandate: protect Trump from Trump and from dangerous liabilities. The Moscow connection has already cast shadows over previous elections, something Wiles would be keen to avoid repeating. Given that Secret Service documents and other sensitive materials pass through her office, her involvement takes on added significance.This points to a third reason the leak may be strategic: upcoming elections and the risk that Witkoff could further compromise Trump and Republican prospects. Left unchecked, Witkoff's backroom dealings could mushroom into a scandal rivaling that of Michael Flynn, Trump's first-term national security advisor who was caught conducting unauthorized communications with the Kremlin and ultimately forced to resign.Trump has predictably defended Witkoff. Admitting error isn't in his playbook—Trump never acknowledges mistakes about people or anything else. He's currently echoing whatever information was last presented to him. Not enough time has passed for the full weight of Witkoff-gate to register, or for advisors to fully brief him on the political risks. But Trump's loyalty has limits. Everyone becomes expendable when they threaten his interests, whether Elon Musk or Marjorie Taylor Greene.The critical objective now is ensuring that Witkoff-gate achieves the same status as the Flynn scandal in public consciousness—a controversy that triggered resignation, national security reviews, and treason investigations. Trump may never accept this framing, but if the media, Congress, and international partners treat it as such, the political pressure could make disposing of Witkoff easier than defending "an old friend."The leak creates two strategic opportunities: first, to remove Witkoff from diplomatic processes as a compromised figure; second, to cast doubt on any agreements he negotiates with the Kremlin should that become necessary.Trump won't admit fault in appointing Witkoff or acknowledge his compromise, just as he never did with Flynn. But Witkoff's term as special representative expires at year's end, and preventing its extension is paramount. The goal isn't public accusations or admissions of guilt, but quiet "recommendations" that Trump let Witkoff's authority lapse. Rumors of such a move circulated even before this scandal broke. The timing of the recordings' release—coinciding precisely with the decision on extending Witkoff's term—is no coincidence.U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised a top Putin aide on how to approach Donald Trump with a Ukraine peace plan, suggesting they collaborate on a proposal modeled after the Gaza ceasefire deal.U.S. President Donald Trump commented on media reports about past conversations between his special representative, Steve Witkoff, and Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov. He called them 'standard negotiation.'