Witkoff breaches diplomatic protocol by meeting Putin without US interpreter
Photo: Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine without his own interpreter. He relied on a Kremlin translator, breaching standard diplomatic protocol, reports NBC News.
According to one Western official, Witkoff, who was tasked with negotiating a potential end to the war in Ukraine, met with Putin on February 11, March 13, and April 11 — all without his own interpreter. Instead, he "used their translators."
"If they speak to each other in Russian, he doesn’t know what they are saying," the official added.
Two former US ambassadors confirmed that Witkoff does not speak Russian. By relying on Kremlin interpreters, he risked missing key nuances in Putin's messaging and had no way to independently verify what was being said.
At the same time, the Kremlin leader, who has some knowledge of English, still uses an interpreter at official events. During the April 25 meeting with Witkoff, he was accompanied by Special Advisor Yuri Ushakov and Special Envoy for Investment and Economic Cooperation Kirill Dmitriev. An interpreter also joined Putin's delegation.
In a brief video released by the Kremlin, Witkoff is seen smiling as he enters the room alone before shaking hands with Putin. Judging by the footage, Trump's Special Envoy arrived without any advisers or experts — the kind who typically accompany US officials during sensitive and complex negotiations.
When a woman joined Witkoff at his side of the table, he pointed at her and asked, "Interpreter? From the embassy? OK."
Former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said relying on a Kremlin interpreter was "a very bad idea" that put Witkoff "at a real disadvantage."
"I speak Russian and have listened to Kremlin interpreters and U.S. interpreters at the same meeting, and the language is never the same... Having a US interpreter present also ensures a more accurate written account of the meeting for the rest of the government, known as a memorandum of conversation or 'memcon,'" McFaul said via email Wednesday.
He also noted that at the end of every meeting he attended, he would question the interpreter to make sure "we heard everything correctly." McFaul emphasized that this would not be possible when using a Russian official.
For her part, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated that Witkoff "abides by all security protocols in coordination with the State Department."
NBC sources also reported that Witkoff's aircraft, which is to travel to Russia for meetings, is not equipped with a secure government communications system. However, they said Witkoff made confidential calls from the US Embassy before boarding the plane and has a secure mobile phone.
What Trump thinks about Witkoff
Recently, US President Donald Trump praised Steve Witkoff's work on the Ukraine war. He called him "a true professional."
"Mr. Witkoff is talking constantly back and forth. He's a real professional. He's got a great relationship with both countries, and I think we have a good chance," Trump said.
