Meetups with Putin: Trump's Envoys Depend on Kremlin Translators, Alarming U.S. Diplomats
Kremlin Interpreters Exclusively Translated for Trump's Representative, Wittkoff
Steve Wittkoff, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, leans on Kremlin-allocated translators during pivotal talks with Russian officials, leaving his counterparts skeptical, American diplomats suggest.
Donald Trump's envoy for Ukraine, Steve Wittkoff, inexplicably relied on Kremlin translators throughout his February, March, and April encounters in Moscow and St. Petersburg, reportedly breaking tradition and putting himself at a distinct disadvantage, as per U.S. broadcaster NBC. Sources claim that Wittkoff, a former property tycoon turned cryptocurrency investor, doesn't converse in Russian and lacks diplomatic expertise, both domestically and internationally.
Unaware of Conversations on the Opposing Side
Wittkoff's inexperience in diplomacy is evident in his departure from the White House's longstanding policy, according to NBC. Typically, an American interpreter partakes in international meetings to ensure the representative can follow discussions taking place among the opposing side's delegates. However, Wittkoff couldn't gauge what transpired during the various negotiations from the Russian perspective.
Two former U.S. ambassadors informed NBC that utilizing Kremlin translators could obscure vital nuances in Vladimir Putin's messages. Given Wittkoff's inability to independently comprehend what was being said, he couldn't validate the conversations' veracity.
A White House spokesperson maintained that Wittkoff was "rigorously following all security protocols in concert with the Department of State." Neither Wittkoff's team, the Department of State, nor the Kremlin responded to NBC's request for comment.
Glimpse into Formal Gatherings
Russian President Vladimir Putin communicates through an interpreter during negotiations and formal events. In their April 25 rendezvous, Putin was accompanied by Yuri Ushakov, his special advisor, and Kirill Dmitriev, his special envoy for investments and economic cooperation. Coincidentally, an interpreter was also present.
A brief video of the meeting, released by the Kremlin, depicts Wittkoff making a beeline for Putin alone before exchanging handshakes with the Russian president, who appeared pleased. Notably, there appeared to be no U.S. experts or advisors supporting Wittkoff, who typically augments American officials in delicate and complicated negotiations.
Michael McFaul, the former US Ambassador to Russia, dismissed the reliance on Kremlin translators as a "terrible idea," as it puts Wittkoff at a "significant disadvantage." Comparing his personal experiences, McFaul told the station, "I converse in Russian and have listened to Kremlin interpreters and US interpreters at the same event. The linguistics are never the same. The presence of a US interpreter guarantees a more accurate meeting record, known as conversation protocol or "Memcon." During each meeting, I would cross-examine the interpreter to ascertain we grasped everything correctly, ensuring the Memcon is accurate. That's not achievable with a Russian official."
The backdrop against the seemingly casual meeting serves as a reminder of the grave challenges and complexities faced by Wittkoff in hammering out an agreement with Russia amid skyrocketing tensions.
- The European Union, concerned about the reliance of Trump's envoy for Ukraine, Steve Wittkoff, on Kremlin translators during negotiations, has questioned the transparency and outcome of these meetings.
- Vladimir Putin's offer for a ceasefire in Ukraine, as communicated through Kremlin-allocated interpreters, might contain nuances that could be missed by Wittkoff, raising concerns about the general-news and crime-and-justice implications of such politics.
- The European Union is debating whether to offer its own team of interpreters to Wittkoff during future meetings with Putin, to ensure a more accurate interpretation of conversations and to prevent any misinterpretation of Putin's intentions in politics and crime-and-justice matters.
- The European Union's involvement in providing interpreters for Wittkoff's meetings could potentially lead to a more robust understanding of the nuances in Putin's messages, and contribute to a more informed decision-making process within the Trump administration on matters of politics and crime-and-justice related to Ukraine.
