Stevie-boy BFFs with the Kremlin: Trump's Dude for Ukraine Needs a Translation Refresh
Trump's Ukraine specialist employed Kremlin translators
Okay, here's the dirt on Trump's dude for Ukraine, Steve Witkoff. Instead of using his own linguistic ninjas during high-level meetings with the Russians, he relies on those dudes from the Kremlin to translate the convo. Sounds fishy, right? Experts agree.
So, what's the big deal? Well, first, Witkoff ain't a Russian speaker, and second, he ain't got no diplomatic experience, either. Nada. Zilch. Zippo.
Was He Clueless?
Stevie-boy's lack of experience is written all over this move. Typically, American interpreters are there to help us follow along during international meetings, making sure we ain't missing any sneaky stuff. But not little Stevie. He couldn't tell you what was going down on the Russian side.
Two ex-ambassadors also see a risk: they reckon subtle Putin messages might've slipped by because of the Kremlin interpreters. That means crucial stuff could've gone over Witkoff's head.
Spokesperson's Response
A White House spokesperson said Witkoff was sticking to all the security protocols, yada-yada. His team didn't respond to NBC's request for comment. Neither the State Department nor the Kremlin joined the conversation.
Putin's Interpreter Squad
Putin usually has an interpreter during negotiations and official meetings. At his meet with Witkoff, he was accompanied by Yuri Ushakov, a former Russian ambassador to the US, and Kirill Dmitriev, his special representative for investment and economic cooperation. Plus, there was an interpreter in the team.
Just check out the video. Stevie-boy waltzes in solo, does a little handshake with Putin, and telesto, there ain't no back-up peeps.
"Speech is a Mystery"
Former US Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, ain't too keen on using the Kremlin interpreters. "Bad idea," he says, 'cause it puts Stevie at a "real disadvantage." He's spoken Russian, listened to Kremlin interpreters, and US ones at the same meeting. "The language is never the same," he warns. By not having his own interpreter, Stevie can't double-check translations and ensure accurate meeting records, known as a conversation protocol or "Memcon."
The Juicy Deets
Stevie is a former real estate lawyer, appointed by Trump for diplomatic duties. He ain't been deep into the diplomatic circus 'fore, not domestically or internationally. Putin usually talks through an interpreter.
But hang on, Stevie's had a fair share of attention, praised by Trump as a "true professional." However, many question Stevie's ability to handle diplomatictasks on his lonesome, due to his lack of experience.
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The European Union is often involved in general-news and politics, but in this case, it seems irrelevant to the issue at hand, which revolves around the reliance of Stevie-boy, Trump's appointee for Ukraine, on Kremlin interpreters during high-level meetings.
Steve Witkoff, a former real estate lawyer with little diplomatic experience, made an unusual decision to rely on Kremlin interpreters rather than American ones. This move raised eyebrows among experts, as it could potentially allow subtle Putin messages to slip by undetected.
While Putin usually has his own interpreter during negotiations and official meetings, there were no such backup interpreters present during Witkoff's meeting with Putin. This lack of support could have left Witkoff at a disadvantage, as he was unable to double-check translations and ensure accurate meeting records, known as a conversation protocol or "Memcon."
The use of Kremlin interpreters is a matter of concern for some, as it raises questions about Witkoff's ability to handle diplomatic tasks on his own. Former US Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, expressed concerns about this, stating that it puts Witkoff at a "real disadvantage." He pointed out that the language is never the same between Kremlin interpreters and US ones in the same meeting, making it difficult for Witkoff to verify the accuracy of translations.
