Amanpour – "Outrage Over Leaked Witkoff Call Coaching Russia On How To Sway Trump"

Date: November 29, 2025
Host: Christiane Amanpour (CNN International)

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the explosive leak of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's call, in which he appears to coach Russian officials on how to influence President Trump towards a peace plan that many view as a de facto Ukrainian surrender. Amanpour examines whether this is standard diplomacy or an egregious betrayal of Ukraine, featuring high-profile interviews with former US Secretary of State John Kerry and former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The episode also includes reports on Sri Lanka’s painful wartime legacy and a conversation with photographer Annie Leibovitz.

Main Segment: The Leaked Witkoff Call & US Diplomacy on Ukraine

Setting the Scene: The Leak and Its Fallout

• Topic introduced: Recent leaks show Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff seemingly coaching Russia in a 28-point plan strongly favoring Moscow, raising questions about the US administration's diplomatic motives and Ukraine policy.
• Amanpour frames the debate:

  “Is this standard diplomacy or a sellout?” (00:48)

• President Trump downplays the leak, labeling it “traditional statecraft.”
• Moscow begins to backpedal, with Lavrov referencing prior summit understandings as the only legitimate basis for negotiation (03:05).

Interview 1: John Kerry, Former US Secretary of State

Key Points:

• Is this ‘normal’ statecraft?

  “This is proven to be fairly normal for how the Trump administration chooses to do its diplomacy...plunking something down and giving somebody sort of an ultimatum, you have to decide this by Thursday. Not a great way to begin.” – John Kerry (04:18)

• Kerry acknowledges the urgent need for peace but warns against agreements that could fuel unrest in either country.
• Perceived deference to Russia:

  “I don’t think anybody can explain precisely why there appears to be this excessive sensitivity to President Putin.” – Kerry (05:14)

• He notes the lack of strong sanctions and pressure on Russia as undermining the West’s position.
• Historical regret:
  Kerry is asked whether more should have been done in 2014 after Crimea's annexation; he reflects on the constraints and limited knowledge at the time:

  “There was some consideration to how do you put pressure but not start World War III?” – Kerry (06:44)

• Lesson learned:

  “He thinks he’s going to win. He thinks he is winning. And that equation has to be changed if you’re going to get the full measure of what you want.” – Kerry (07:54)

• On military dissent and Pentagon investigation:
  Kerry rebukes the targeting of Senator Mark Kelly and others over remarks about refusing illegal orders:

  “I think this singling out of people and suggesting you’re going to bring them back and … try them or court martial them, I think it’s un-American.” (09:08)

Interview 2: Dmytro Kuleba, Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister

Reaction to Leak:

• On the substance:

  “If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. So if it looks like a Russian ultimatum, then probably it is. It comes from Russia.” (10:57, 17:16)

• Kuleba, referencing the transcript, paints Witkoff as proactively helping Russia maximize gains in the Trump administration’s peace negotiation by timing a Putin-Trump call to undercut Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House (14:00–16:30).
• On the diplomatic custom:
  Describes it as extraordinary and deeply troubling that an American envoy is essentially briefing Russia on how to manipulate US decision-making.
• On the intelligence leak’s magnitude:
  Kuleba suggests the fact that someone exposed the taps, despite operational risk, is indicative of the seriousness of the threat:

  "The one who was tapping Ushakov’s phone found the situation so consequential that he decided that it’s worth exposing the tap...” (18:41)

• On the future of the peace plan:

  “I think we can bury the 28 point plan because it’s discredited... It’s very hard to imagine how you can actually move on from here now.” (19:30)

Key Quotes & Their Significance

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:18 | John Kerry | “Plunking something down and giving somebody sort of an ultimatum... Not a great way to begin.” | | 05:14 | John Kerry | “I don’t think anybody can explain precisely why there appears to be this excessive sensitivity to President Putin.” | | 10:57, 17:16| Dmytro Kuleba | “If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. So if it looks like a Russian ultimatum, then probably it is. It comes from Russia.” | | 18:41 | Dmytro Kuleba | “This leak is a turning point... the threat of the situation is worth exposing the tapping.” | | 19:30 | Dmytro Kuleba | “I think we can bury the 28 point plan because it’s discredited…” |

Other Notable Segments

Mass Graves and Painful Memories: Sri Lanka (20:50–25:20)

• A mass grave of over 240 people, including children, is discovered in northern Sri Lanka, reopening wounds from the civil war.
• Families of missing Tamils recall their loss and frustration at ongoing impunity.
• The government promises investigations, but victims and the UN doubt transparency.

  “How many years have we been tormented by this? Look what’s happened, my children, my country got ruined.” – Sivapatham Ilankatai (21:57)

Annie Leibovitz on Portraying Women and Icons (27:07–34:09)

On representation:

“We don’t have enough stories. As women, we need to see ourselves. This collection ... is really a set of simple, good pictures of women from the last five or 10 years.” – Annie Leibovitz (27:07)

On photographing Michelle Obama:
Details the new session, noting Obama was more relaxed in jeans (28:07).

On the iconic John and Yoko photograph:

“It turns from a story of love to a goodbye... after he died... That’s interesting about photography – how over time, the stories sort of change in the imagery.” – Leibovitz (29:03)

Humanitarian Highlight:

God’s Love We Deliver (36:09–37:38)

• The charity’s 40th anniversary, providing meals for the sick and vulnerable, especially during the AIDS crisis and still today.
• Anecdotes highlight hope and gratitude amid suffering.

  “I got food for me and my kids and I’m still alive today.” – Mary Diaz, charity beneficiary (37:34)

Final Note: John Kerry’s Knighthood (38:43–39:39)

• Kerry receives an honorary knighthood from King Charles for his climate diplomacy.

“He was very funny in terms of my kids... I’m very grateful to His Majesty for the honor, but equally I am grateful for His Majesty’s leadership and vision...” – John Kerry (38:43)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:48 – Amanpour introduces the Witkoff leak
• 04:18 – John Kerry on diplomacy “ultimatums”
• 10:57 – Dmytro Kuleba’s “duck test” for Russian ultimatums
• 18:41 – Kuleba on the strategic significance of the leak
• 20:50 – Sri Lanka mass grave report
• 27:07 – Annie Leibovitz on her new women’s photo book
• 29:03 – Leibovitz on the John & Yoko photograph
• 36:09 – The story of God’s Love We Deliver’s founding
• 38:43 – John Kerry on receiving honorary knighthood

Notable Quotes in Context

John Kerry on Trump Diplomacy:

“This is proven to be fairly normal for how the Trump administration chooses to do its diplomacy. I think just plunking something down and giving somebody sort of an ultimatum... not a great way to begin.” (04:18)

Dmytro Kuleba on the Leaked Plan:

“That 28-point plan is a list of Russian ultimatums blended with American ideas on how to make these ultimatums look better than they actually are.” (17:16)

Annie Leibovitz on Legacy:

“It turns from a story of love to a goodbye... after he was killed... that’s interesting about photography – how over time the stories change.” (29:03)

Summary Takeaway

The episode exposes the behind-the-scenes chaos and controversy over US-Ukraine-Russia peace talks, critically examines diplomatic ethics, and highlights wider human stories of pain and healing from Sri Lanka to New York kitchens to iconic portraits. It features candid, sometimes emotional, interviews with those who have shaped and witnessed history—and those still fighting to be seen.