According to Le Monde, citing sources, U.S. special envoy Witkoff held a tense meeting in Florida on October 9 with Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office.
Sources claimed that Witkoff spoke to Budanov “like a child,” trying to “teach” him how to make money.
Witkoff proposed a postwar “regional prosperity plan” that included fully restoring Russian oil and gas transit to Europe through Ukrainian territory.
Witkoff argued that Ukraine would earn transit revenues while Europe would benefit from lower energy costs.
Budanov reportedly replied that Ukraine’s model is “not Belarus, but Poland,” then stepped out to call President Zelenskyy, who advised him not to show any reaction.
When the talks resumed, the Ukrainian side was shown a document outlining a U.S.-Russia diesel deal.
An irritated Witkoff reportedly said: “Accept this diesel deal and stop striking Russian oil refineries — you are putting the world at risk!”
Ukrainian participants were described as shocked, viewing the plan as creating dependency on Moscow and noting that the United States appeared to have secured nothing in return from Putin.
A source close to the delegation told Le Monde: “I have never seen the Ukrainians so stunned and alarmed after a meeting.”
Analysts contrasted the episode with the February 28, 2025 Oval Office incident, saying this one involves concrete policy decisions that could affect Ukraine’s ability to defend itself ahead of a potentially harsh winter.
https://t.co/eOmRleTQgk
We just learned more about Trump’s Venezuela oil deal, and here’s everything you need to know:
1. This deal is structured to hide the identities of people who stand to profit from it.
You don’t hide that unless you have a reason to. And the man whose firm Trump just bought a 35% stake in? Alejandro Betancourt, a Venezuelan billionaire who has faced several money-laundering investigations around the world.
2. Don’t expect cheaper gas anytime soon.
Experts have been telling us for MONTHS that oil production in Venezuela isn’t going to lower U.S. gas prices anytime soon. Betancourt’s company is able to deliver as much oil in a year as the U.S. uses in a few days. Anyone promising this deal will bring down prices at the pump is selling you lies.
3. If there’s a legal fight over this agreement, it has to go through a Texas court that Trump’s DOJ has repeatedly turned to for favorable rulings.
4. This deal creates a board designed to be shielded from oversight and accountability. Trump’s own Treasury Secretary wasn’t able to give Congress basic answers or audits when he testified about Venezuela just last month. But we should blindly trust them now?
So let’s recap: Americans aren’t going to feel relief at the pump. The identity of the people involved is conveniently hidden from us. And legal disputes go to a specific court that disproportionately rules in Trump’s favor.
Whatever you think American foreign policy towards Venezuela should be, Congress and the public deserve to know who’s involved and where the money is going.
https://t.co/Lc17ECiajT
With pressure on Ukraine to cede territory to Russian invaders, Trump is following the UK leader excoriated for pushing a peace deal that actually gave rise to world war. https://t.co/zgfH0fh2xf
Zuckerberg already admitted it wrongly suspended the No Kings Instagram account during the peak of a massive voter-mobilization effort.
Now, seven days before the midterms, Zuckerberg has suspended the account Angie Nixon’s Senate campaign uses to organize Latino voters.
At what point do repeated “mistakes” that suppress organizing by Democrats become an election-integrity crisis?
@LakotaMan1 Maybe he should, like, figure out how to get Cone Mills’ White Oak mill back up and running. Greensboro was called Jeansboro for a reason, and now it feels like Japan’s the only place left making selvedge denim. United States isn’t any home for those right jeans anymore… Sad!
Donald Trump Jr. reportedly took a hunting trip in August to a remote part of Mongolia with the Russian oligarch, Umar Kremlev, who helped pay for his wedding.
Here's what reportedly happened: https://t.co/km7OfG71Fb
📸: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images
The Trump administration is considering dropping sanctions on the Russian Direct Investment Fund, run by Kirill Dmitriev. An unbelievable betrayal of Ukraine. https://t.co/1ru1UiEcms via @NYTimes
Breaking news: Trump considers dropping sanctions on Putin’s “slush fund”
The move would be the latest U.S. concession to Moscow.
https://t.co/sscpxrDmgX
The remote rendezvous in August highlights the remarkable relationship between a son of the US president and a businessman with ties to the Kremlin. https://t.co/EWkagLBRCl
The trip highlights the remarkable relationship between a son of the US president and a tycoon with a criminal record who has close ties to Vladimir Putin’s personal security service. Intelligence experts say such connections are ripe for manipulation. https://t.co/bw15uIxFbp