Trump's administration voices discontent with Whitcoff's tactics during Russia diplomatic talks - reports suggest
Steve 'Stevey' Whitcoff, Trump's Real Estate Mogul Gone Rogue Diplomat, Raises Eyebrows
Steve Whitcoff, a billionaire real estate tycoon and Trump's buddy, has been causing quite a stir in the White House with his negotiation tactics in dealings with America's biggest adversaries.
Whitcoff, who's now Trump's de facto personal envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been taking on Middle East responsibilities too, and it seems he's not afraid to break the rules. Sources claim he even relies on Kremlin interpreters in high-stakes meetings, defying diplomatic protocols that have been standing for ages.
Before his latest pow-wow with Putin, the New York native greeted the Kremlin strongman like an old pal - without his usual posse of advisors, experts, and military personnel. Putin wasn't alone, though, as he was accompanied by aide Yuri Ushakov and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev.
John Hardy, director of the Russia Democracy Fund's program, opined that anyone negotiating with Putin could benefit from having experienced Russian specialists in their team, hinting that Whitcoff might be in over his head.
The media has noticed that Whitcoff tends to echo Putin's words and spread his narrative, while disregarding the Ukrainian side's stance. With the special envoy role for Ukraine assigned to Keith Kellogg, it seems Whitcoff is meddling in Europe's worst conflict since World War II, a role better suited to someone with diplomatic experience.
Critics have pointed out that Whitcoff's lack of experience is overshadowing his judgment, particularly when it comes to the complex issue of Iran. Israeli security expert and researcher Denny Shirtovitz hopes Whitcoff brings more people onto his team for the Iran portfolio, admitting that, "While he's a nice guy, this is a tough one."
Former Trump national security advisor John Bolton has criticized Whitcoff's Iran talks as a waste of time. Reuters reported that certain actions and statements by Whitcoff regarding the resolution of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine have drawn criticism from the White House and Republicans. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has even accused Whitcoff of spreading Russian narratives.
*** Want to know more? : *Trump's Buddy Who Plays into Putin's Hands: An In-depth Look at Special Envoy Steve Whitcoff****
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Footnotes:1. New York Post2. Reuters3. The Jerusalem Post4. Haaretz5. Foreign Policy
- Steve Whitcoff, Trump's controversial envoy to Russia, has been expressing sentiments seemingly aligned with Putin's, giving rise to concerns about his independence in diplomatic negotiations.
- Unaware of diplomatic protocols, Whitcoff reportedly uses Kremlin interpreters in high-stakes meetings with Putin, a move that has drawn criticism from experts in politics and general news.
- Amidst Putin's ceasefire talks, Whitcoff, the billionaire real estate mogul turned diplomat, appears to be broker for more than just real estate deals, managing responsibilities in Middle Eastern and Russian politics.
- Despite criticism from within the White House and Republicans, as well as foreign leaders, Whitcoff remains unaware of the impact his unconventional methods might have on ongoing war-and-conflicts and the complexities of international politics.
