Intense reactions and varied questions arises by the revelation of the US NBC network that his special envoy Donald TrumpSteve Whitkov came in the negotiations with Vladimir Putin For the war in Ukraine without its own interpretation.
Indeed, as NBC reports, Donald Trump’s man Steve Witkov was based on talks with Vladimir Putin about the interpretation, a Russian Kremlin employee.
34 -year -old Natalia Koskina, who works as a second secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s linguistics department and previously served as a third secretary of the Russian mission in NATO in Brussels.
“Witten violated the long-term protocol by not hiring his own interpreter during three high-level meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, choosing instead to rely on translators from the Kremlin,” two NBCs told NBC.
The use of the Kremlin interpreter was “a very bad idea” that put Witkov “in a really disadvantaged”, commented by Michael McAfol, a former US ambassador to Russia.
The ‘unknown’ bazaar for Ukraine
THE Steve Whitkovto which he has been assigned by the Donald Trump The negotiation of the end of war in Ukraine met with Russian President Putin In Moscow for several hours on February 11, March 13 and St. Petersburg on April 11 and “used their translators,” one of Western officials said. “If they talk to each other in Russian, Whitkov does not know what they are saying,” the official added, referring to Putin and the interpreters.
THE Steve Witkoffa former real estate tycoon and trader of cryptocurrencies, does not speak Russian. Using the Kremlin interpreters, it is at risk of not being perceived by some of the details of Putin’s messages and not being able to verify, no matter what was said to him, two US ambassadors said.
OR Anna KellyDeputy White House Press Secretary, he said in a statement that Witkov “keeps all security protocols in coordination with the Foreign Ministry”. Both the US Foreign Ministry and Kremlin have also been called upon to comment without, so far, to have done so.
Putin and English
The Russian leader, who is known to speak some English, is communicating through an interpreter during the negotiations and when he holds official meetings.
At a meeting with Witten on April 25, he was accompanied by his special adviser Yuri Usakovwho served as Russian ambassador to the United States between 1998 and 2008, and Coil Dmitriyevhis special envoy for investment and economic cooperation. An interpreter joined Putin’s team.
“#witless doesn’t a team for this. He’s only selling #Ukraine out!”
The fourth meeting between #Whitkoff and #Putin begins
Before this, the #US President’s special envoy met with #Putin‘s “favourite,” the head of the #Russian Direct Investment Fund, #Kirill_Dmitriev. pic.twitter.com/RXsZgAXqKk
— Putin’s IBS (@kardinal691) April 25, 2025
A short video from the meeting posted by the Kremlin shows the smiling Whitkov coming in on his own before Putin’s hand, who also smiles wide. Whitkov does not seem to be accompanied by advisers or experts who usually support US officials who carry out subtle and complex negotiations.
As a woman approached Whitkov on his side on the table, he showed her and said: “An interpreter? From the embassy? Ok”.
Kelly, the White House Deputy Secretary and Witkov’s team did not announce the woman’s identity when asked by NBC News. The Foreign Ministry, the US Embassy in Moscow and Kremlin have also been called upon to comment.
“Fire” from inside for Witten
THE Michaela former US ambassador to Russia, said the use of the Kremlin interpreter was “a very bad idea” who put Witkov “in a really disadvantaged”.
“I speak Russian and I have heard Kremlin interpreters and American interpreters at the same meeting, and language is never the same,” McFol said.
The presence of an American interpreter also guarantees a more accurate written record of the meeting for the rest of the government, known as a conversation memorandum or “Memcon”, Macpholnow Professor of Political Science at the American University of Stanford.
“At the end of each meeting I was attending, I was informed by the interpreter to make sure we heard everything right, to make the” communication “right. You can’t do this using a Russian official, “he added.
The lack of detailed notes on meetings could create problems for other senior members of the Trump government, such as the Foreign Minister, Mark Rubio and the US president’s expert envoy to Ukraine, Keith Klogeas they try to promote the discussions, noted Macphol.
“How does Kogek know what Witkov agreed with Putin? He knows it only through a “members of the members”, “he added.
The Weitkov’s handling with ‘sensitive’ informationas he plays a key role in trying to resolve, not only of the war in Ukraine, but also in the conflict in Gaza and the nuclear deal with Iran, they have also sparked reactions.
source: nbcnews.com