Trump envoy's controversial use of Kremlin translators in talks
Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's envoy, held discussions with Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine, employing Kremlin translators, revealed the American network NBC News.
What do you need to know?
- Steve Witkoff, envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, engaged in discussions with Vladimir Putin on halting the war in Ukraine, using Kremlin translators.
- Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, criticised this decision.
- The meetings were held three times in the early months of this year.
Why did Witkoff use Kremlin translators?
Steve Witkoff, envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, during talks with Vladimir Putin on halting the war in Ukraine, utilised Kremlin translators, as revealed by the American network NBC News.
This decision was met with criticism. Witkoff broke a long-standing protocol by not employing his own translator, stated an American official and two Western officials familiar with the discussions to the network.
Former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, emphasised that using Kremlin translators is "a very bad idea." In McFaul's opinion, this choice placed Witkoff "at a real disadvantage."
- If they speak to each other in Russian, he doesn’t know what they are saying - commented one of NBC's sources.
What were the consequences of this decision?
Witkoff, a former real estate mogul, does not speak Russian, which could have impacted his ability to fully comprehend the discussions. Using Kremlin translators posed the risk of missing nuances in Putin's messages.
Two former U.S. ambassadors noted that the presence of a U.S. translator ensures a more accurate record of the meeting, which is crucial for the rest of the government.
Witkoff held talks regarding Ukraine three times
The American president's envoy held discussions about Ukraine three times in February, March, and April of this year.
McFaul, who understands Russian, always listened to both Kremlin and U.S. translators, noting differences in their messages.
