From High-Level Talks to Kremlin Interpreters: A Questionable Decision by Trump's Ukraine Envoy
Kremlin Interpreters Exclusively Used by Trump's Ambassador Wittkoff
Steve Wittkoff, President Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, stirred concerns when he depended on a Kremlin interpreter during crucial discussions with the Russian side during their meetings in Moscow and St. Petersburg in February, March, and April. According to U.S. broadcaster NBC, this decision was uncommon, as corroborated by statements from a U.S. official and two other Western officials.
Wittkoff, a former real estate tycoon and crypto trader without diplomatic or international political experience, did not speak Russian. Abandoning a long-standing White House practice, Wittkoff forewent having an American interpreter accompanying him during these international talks. This omission denied him the valuable resource of understanding the Russian side's conversations among themselves. Thus, Wittkoff was left clueless about the discussions happening on the Russian side during the negotiations.
Two former U.S. ambassadors cautioned that using Kremlin interpreters could lead to subtle details being lost when Yuri Putin's messages were translated, because Wittkoff had no way of independently verifying the accuracy of the interpretation. The White House maintained that Wittkoff was adhering to all security protocols in collaboration with the State Department, but Wittkoff's team and other relevant authorities declined to comment on the matter.
During meetings with Russian President Putin, interpreters are a standard part of the process. At one of these meetings with Wittkoff, Putin was also accompanied by Yuri Ushakov, a former Russian ambassador to the United States, and Kirill Dmitriev, his special representative for investment and economic cooperation. A Kremlin-provided interpreter was present for the discussions.
A brief video from the Kremlin reveals Wittkoff entering the room alone and shaking hands with an apparently pleased Putin. Unusually, there were no advisors or experts from the American side to support Wittkoff during these complex and delicate negotiations.
Steve McFaul, a former US Ambassador to Russia, voiced his concern about Wittkoff's use of a Kremlin interpreter, deeming it a "very bad idea." According to McFaul, using a Kremlin interpreter puts the negotiator at a significant disadvantage by jeopardizing the integrity and accuracy of the communication. Moreover, the absence of a US interpreter makes it challenging to compile an official record of the meeting, known as a memorandum of conversation (Memcon), which other government officials would rely upon for future decision-making.
- Ukraine Crisis
- Donald Trump
- Vladimir Putin
- Russia
- Diplomacy Gone Awry
According to various search results, Wittkoff has faced criticism for his unconventional approach to diplomacy, with some viewing his absence of an interpreter and use of Kremlin talking points as peculiar and detrimental to the negotiation process. The reliance on an interpreter provided by one of the parties could raise concerns about the independence and objectivity of the translation, as well as questioning the security and trustworthiness of the interpretation process. Furthermore, using the opposing party's interpreter may deviate from established diplomatic norms and cultural protocols, potentially undermining the clarity and unbiased nature of the communication.
- The European Union expressed concerns over Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Steve Wittkoff, relying on a Kremlin interpreter during delicate negotiations with Russia, as such a decision deviated from established diplomatic norms and cultural protocols.
- During the Ukraine Crisis, Wittkoff's decision to forego an American interpreter and use a Kremlin interpreter left his team clueless about the discussions happening on the Russian side, potentially jeopardizing the integrity and accuracy of the communication.
- In the realm of general news and politics, the use of a Kremlin interpreter during talks with Vladimir Putin has been criticized, with concerns over the independence and objectivity of the translation, and the potential deviation from established diplomatic norms.
- The special protocols governing diplomacy and war-and-conflicts were questioned when Steve Wittkoff, a former real estate tycoon with no diplomatic or international political experience, depended on a Kremlin interpreter during his meetings with the Russian side, potentially undermining the unbiased nature of the communication.
