WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s chief interlocutor with the Russian government last month advised a senior aide to Vladimir Putin on how the Russian leader should go about pitching the U.S. president on a peace plan aimed at bringing an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to a transcript of the call published by Bloomberg News on Tuesday.

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Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, according to a transcript of the Oct. 14 call published by the news service, advised Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov that Putin should call Trump to congratulate him for the Gaza peace deal, say Russia had supported it and that he respects the president as a man of peace.

“From that, it’s going to be a really good call,” Witkoff said according to the transcript.

When asked by Russian state media to comment on Bloomberg’s report, Ushakov did not question the recordings’ authenticity but said that they had not been leaked by Moscow. He also said that the calls had likely been leaked to “hinder” U.S.-Russia ties. “It’s unlikely this is being done to improve relations,” he said.

Ushakov also said that he spoke with Witkoff by phone “quite often” but refused to discuss the content of the recording. “The essence of these conversations is that they are confidential. I won’t comment. No one should comment.”

The Bloomberg report came as Trump on Tuesday said a proposal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine has been “fine-tuned” and announced he’s sending Witkoff to meet with Putin.

The White House did not dispute the veracity of the transcript, and Trump described Witkoff’s reported approach to the Russians in the call as “standard” negotiating procedure.

“He’s got to sell this to Ukraine. He’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew to his home in Florida on Tuesday night. “That’s what a dealmaker does.”

But U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who has been critical of Trump’s approach to Ukraine, said the transcript showed Witkoff favors the Russians. “He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired,” Bacon said on social media.

Bloomberg said it reviewed a recording of the call, but did not say how it obtained access to the recording. The Associated Press has not independently verified the transcript.

The Witkoff-Ushakov call happened a day after Trump made a triumphant visit to Israel and Egypt to celebrate sealing the Gaza ceasefire.

“Here’s what I think would be amazing,” Witkoff said to his counterpart during the call, according to Bloomberg. “Maybe he says to President Trump: you know, Steve and Yuri discussed a very similar 20-point plan to peace and that could be something that we think might move the needle a little bit, we’re open to those sorts of things.”

Witkoff also suggested setting up a Trump-Putin call before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s White House visit later that week and suggested that Putin congratulate Trump on the Gaza agreement as an entry point into the call. Ushakov agreed that Putin “will congratulate” and will say “Mr. Trump is a real peace man.”

Trump and Putin ended up speaking to each other a day before the U.S. president held White House talks with Zelenskyy. Shortly after that meeting with Zelenskyy on Oct. 17, Trump said that Ukraine and Russia should “stop where they are” on the battlefield — meaning Ukraine should concede territory Russia had seized from its neighbor.

On Oct. 29, Ushakov spoke by phone with Kirill Dmitriev — a close adviser to Putin on Ukraine — and debated how strongly Moscow should push for its demands in a prospective peace proposal, according to another recording reviewed by Bloomberg.

“I’ll informally pass it along, making it clear that it’s all informal. And let them do like their own,” Dmitriev told Ushakov in the back and forth. “But, I don’t think they’ll take exactly our version, but at least it’ll be as close to it as possible.

The exchange happened soon after Dmitriev had traveled to Florida for talks with Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and informal adviser, that centered on creating the framework for a 28-point peace plan.

The original plan, which became public last week, appeared heavily skewed toward Russian demands and included calls for Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas region to Russia and dramatically reduce the size of its military. It also included an agreement from Europe that Ukraine will never be allowed to join the NATO military alliance.

“This story proves one thing: Special Envoy Witkoff talks to officials in both Russia and Ukraine nearly every day to achieve peace, which is exactly what President Trump appointed him to do,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Dmitriev said in a social media post that the transcript was “Fake” and said in a second post: “The closer we get to peace, the more desperate warmongers become.” The Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted the proposal was authored by the United States, with input from both the Russians and Ukrainians, in response to bipartisan pushback in Washington that the leaked plan amounted to a Russian wish list. The State Department declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.

On Tuesday, Trump said he was sending Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Ukrainian officials as Witkoff meets with Putin. Trump also suggested he could eventually meet with Putin and Zelenskyy, but not until further progress has been made in negotiations.

The next two weeks might be the most important in the fantasy football season. Not only are they the final contests of the regular season, but they’re also your last chance to bulk up your roster for the playoffs in Weeks 15, 16 and 17.

The NFL’s matchups in those weeks are critical. Who your standouts are facing can have as much to do with your success, or lack thereof, as those players’ résumés.

The Vikings, for example, have a rather favorable trio of games against the Cowboys, Giants and Lions. But their quarterback issues could make those defenses look impregnable.

Next week, we’ll look at the stars who are looking at a rocky road the last three weekends of December. But today, we’ll list 10 fellows who could have especially smooth sailing:

Jonathan Taylor (Colts RB): NFL rushing leader needs to average 134 yards over final six games to top 2,000. He’ll average more than that against the Seahawks, Niners and Jaguars.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) celebrates the team’s win against the Tennessee Titans after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

De’Von Achane (Dolphins RB): He has a shot to surpass 2,000 total yards, and that effort will be boosted with games against Steelers, Bengals and Buccaneers.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 08: De’Von Achane #28 of the Miami Dolphins runs the ball against the New York Giants during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

TreVeon Henderson (Patriots RB): The hottest rookie runner from The Ohio State University won’t be cooling off when he faces the Bills, Ravens and Jets.

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson carries the ball for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers WR): This year’s top rookie receiver will face three supple pass defenses in the Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (9) signals during a pre-season NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)

A.J. Brown (Eagles WR): The malcontent receiver seems happier now, and with the Raiders, Commanders and Bills ahead, his fantasy backers will be happier still.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) scores a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) defends during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Trey McBride (Cardinals TE): He’s the league’s No. 1 tight end for a now-pass-happy Arizona offense. It will be bombs away against the Texans, Falcons and Bengals.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride takes part in drills at the NFL football team’s practice facility, Monday, May 23, 2022, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

George Kittle (49ers TE): He’s again the Niners’ top receiving threat. And the Titans, Colts and Bears defenses are not very threatening.

George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers dives for the pylon after a catch and run during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 27, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Joe Burrow (Bengals QB): He’ll be back this week and looking to pad his stats in a lost season. The Ravens, Dolphins and Cardinals defenses will help him.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, bottom, goes down with a season-ruining turf toe injury as he is sacked by Jacksonville’s Arik Armstead during last Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Jayden Daniels (Commanders QB): Last year’s rookie of the year should be back just in time to face three NFC East rivals: Giants, Eagles and Cowboys.

Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders looks to pass during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Oct. 19, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins QB): He has fooled us many times before, but the Steelers, Bengals and Bucs have pass defenses Miami can exploit.

Tua Tagovailoa #1 and Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins celebrate after Tagovailoa’s touchdown in the third quarter of a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium on Nov. 17, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Sitting stars

Seems hard to believe, but you MIGHT want to keep both Vikings WR Justin Jefferson and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson on the bench this week. Unless you have no better options. … Neither Vikings RB, Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason, will do much against Seattle defense. … Most overrated player in NFL? Could be Lions WR Jameson Williams, who might get another goose egg against Green Bay. … Just a hunch, but Lions may get revenge on Packers QB Jordan Love for his great game in the opener. … San Fran QB Brock Purdy looked bad at times Monday night, and he’ll look worse with Cleveland’s Myles Garrett breathing down his neck.

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) tackles Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) in the fourth quarter of an NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. The Ravens beat the Vikings, 27-19. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Matchup game

New England WR Stefon Diggs has run a bit hot and cold this season, but he’ll be on point Monday night against the Giants. … Dallas will need to run the ball to upset Kansas City on Turkey Day, so Javonte Williams could have a big day. … A no-name RB who could find paydirt this week: Saints backup Devin Neal. … Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews’ revival will accelerate against Cincinnati. … We have no idea why Jacoby Brissett is suddenly a mad bomber, but the Cards’ QB will post strong numbers again in Tampa. … And two quarterbacks we expect to feast against bad defenses are Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence versus Tennessee and Denver’s Bo Nix against Washington.

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs during an NFL football practice, Monday, June 9, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Injury watch

All eyes are on Packers RB Josh Jacobs, who sat last week due to a knee injury. Will he return, or will the short week before their Thanksgiving game in Detroit mean another big start for Emamuel Wilson? … As for quarterbacks, the Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers is expected back, but Tampa’s Baker Mayfield and Washington’s Daniels are much iffier. … The list of questionables includes three running backs (Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty, Bucs’ Bucky Irving, Saints’ Alvin Kamara), eight pass catchers (Dallas’ George Pickens, Chiefs’ Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, Cards’ Marvin Harrison Jr., Steelers’ D.K. Metcalf, Jags’ Brian Thomas Jr., Buffalo TE Dalton Kincaid, Lions TE Brock Wright) and two quarterbacks (Giants’ Jaxson Dart, Texans’ C.J. Stroud).

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) runs near Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (29) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Deepest sleeper

Cincinnati WR Andrei Iosivas is back on the radar. He has only 12 catches for 147 yards and one TD over his past three games, but he could be in for big game Thanksgiving night in Baltimore. Tee Higgins is out, and Ja’Marr Chase is dealing with the pressure of trying to avoid spitting at his opponent … again. With Burrow returning, Iosivas could find himself back in the end zone.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – DECEMBER 28: Andrei Iosivas #80 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Thursday/Friday picks

Packers at Lions (-2½)
Pick: Lions by 7

Chiefs at Cowboys (+3½)
Pick: Chiefs by 7

Bengals at Ravens (-7½)
Pick: Ravens by 7

Bears at Eagles (-7½)
Pick: Eagles by 7

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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America’s enemies are growing bolder and more sophisticated in cyberspace. To fend them off, the government must stop unilaterally disarming.

Two recent reports underscore the danger. In mid-October, Seattle-based cybersecurity firm F5 Inc. acknowledged a “catastrophic” breach of its systems, which may have allowed Chinese hackers to penetrate networks used by federal agencies and Fortune 500 companies. Less than a week later, a congressionally mandated watchdog, the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, warned that US cyber readiness had for the first time regressed since the body was formed five years ago. Nearly a quarter of the group’s recommendations judged to have been “fully implemented” had lost that status.

Much of the damage has occurred at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, responsible for coordinating defense of the nation’s civilian networks. Launched in 2018, the agency has generally won plaudits for helping secure election systems around the country, providing early warning of attacks, and helping companies and infrastructure managers bolster their cyberdefenses. Since January, the agency has lost nearly a third of its personnel — including most of its senior staff — to layoffs, buyouts and early resignations. About two-thirds of the remaining employees were furloughed during the government shutdown, while others have been transferred to agencies focused on deportations. At one point, fewer than 900 were still on the job.

Meanwhile, a key law offering liability protections to companies when they share information about attacks with the government and each other lapsed temporarily, slowing down potential responses. While Congress has revived it through the end of January, a long-term fix is still needed. The administration’s proposed budget for 2026 would slash nearly $500 million from CISA’s funding, further shrinking collaboration with states and companies, as well as education and training programs.

Although the White House defends the cuts as streamlining the agency’s mission, cybersecurity professionals and members of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission are alarmed. Artificial intelligence tools threaten to supercharge the capabilities of criminals and US adversaries even as, according to the commission’s new report, the “nation’s ability to protect itself and its allies from cyber threats is stalling and, in several areas, slipping.” States and infrastructure operators can’t easily replicate the resources and bird’s-eye view of the federal government, nor can they play the same coordinating role. If that delays responses to hacks of critical systems, including energy grids and hospitals, attacks could swiftly cascade.

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Congress should heed the warnings of its own commission. The information-sharing law in particular has widespread support across both sides of the aisle and across industry. It should be extended beyond January, and a replacement found for the public-private council that formerly allowed industry to discuss sensitive security information with the government.

When legislators finally get around to drawing up a new budget for next year, they should also restore funding and staffing for CISA, preferably on a multiyear basis to insulate the agency against future shutdowns. While it may be difficult to restock the ranks with experienced professionals given more lucrative private-sector opportunities, the government should at least strive to retain those that are left and to restore the pipeline for new recruits.

Threats to the nation’s digital networks are not going to shrink. Neither should the agency tasked with helping to defeat them.

At Cossetta’s, panettone is moving upward — literally and figuratively.

Up till now, head pastry chef Jaime Martinez and his team have made the classic Italian Christmas bread in a subterranean bakery under the gelato shop at the St. Paul culinary institution. But starting in December, the company’s panettone operation is relocating up to the second floor of Cossetta Eventi, the company’s catering space on Exchange Street, into a custom-built, 15,000-square-foot panettone production facility.

In conjunction with the move, said owner Dave Cossetta, the company is launching an e-commerce platform Dec. 1, at cossettas.com, to ship panettone nationwide year-round.

Cossetta head pastry chef Jaime Martinez pushes an inverted cooling rack of panettone loaves on Nov. 20, 2025, at the new bakery facility dedicated to the Italian bread. Led by Martinez, panettone made by the Cossetta’s team won first place across North and South America at a recent competition. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)

Panettone is famously difficult to master. The treat is a round loaf that starts with a fermented “mother” dough like sourdough, but with a buttery texture that rivals the silkiest croissant. Loaves are flavored with orange and vanilla and speckled with candied fruit, and they cool upside-down in specialized racks so the domed tops don’t collapse. Start to finish, a single batch takes anywhere from 50 to 70 hours and requires near-constant attention.

“This ain’t for the weak at heart,” Cossetta said after a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new kitchen space. “We’re serious.”

And already, Martinez and his team make the best panettone on the continent: In September, team Cossetta’s swept at the biannual Panettone World Cup Americas Division, winning the top prize for traditional panettone in the U.S. for the fourth consecutive time and being named the best panettone overall across North and South America.

During the ribbon-cutting event on Nov. 20, St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her lauded Cossetta’s success at producing traditional foods like panettone as a win for St. Paul and an example of the long-term rootedness of immigrant-founded cultural business in the city.

“Not only is this a validation of the dreams that our ancestors bring with when they start something new, but it’s also a validation of our city — that we can grow businesses, grow restaurants that produce products on this level,” she told the crowd of about 200.

Cossetta’s new panettone kitchen includes both must-haves — a humidity-controlled environment for the fermented “mother” dough; rotating proofing boxes and ovens; a mixer that can hold about 500 pounds of dough — plus some new bells and whistles. With a roller coaster-esque chain lift, one particularly staggering contraption elevates the gargantuan mixing bowl about eight feet in the air and slowly rotates it, dumping the dough cleanly onto a wooden work surface so chefs don’t have to manually transfer a quarter-ton of dense dough before shaping it into loaves by hand.

And from the new kitchen, Dave Cossetta hopes Martinez and his longtime team of panettone chefs Rafael Morán, Ariana Anaro Montoya and Carelys Santeaga — who between them have more than seven decades of pastry experience at Cossetta’s alone — can launch the bakery’s panettone upward in the global World Cup rankings.

A half-loaf of Cossetta’s panettone sits on a pedestal alongside a trophy on Nov. 20, 2025, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the company’s new panettone bakery facility. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)

Cossetta’s win at the Americas Division this fall qualifies the team to once again compete at the Coppa del Mondo del Panettone, the world championships, in Milan next fall. Martinez and Morán also qualified to bring Cossetta’s panettone to the World Cup in 2024 but did not earn a medal. In March, Ton Cortés, the renowned Barcelona baker who won the 2024 World Cup, spent about six days at Cossetta’s, helping Martinez and the team test batches and refine recipes.

Traditionally, panettone is only served around Christmas. Cossetta’s sells a smaller pound cake-sized version of the treat year-round, but Dave Cossetta hopes the high quality of Cossetta’s classic panettone will turn the domed cakes into a regular treat, too. And if you ask the people who make it, the plan seems to be working.

“Panettone is getting more demand now than ever,” Morán said.

Panettone is on sale now at Cossetta’s in St. Paul (211 W. 7th St.; 651-222-3476) starting at $42.95 and is set to be priced for e-commerce at $79.95, including shipping and a gift box.

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