Trump’s Envoy Negotiated with Putin on Ukraine Using a Kremlin Interpreter

A revelation by NBC has sparked strong reactions and raised numerous questions about how Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of Donald Trump, approached negotiations with Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine. According to NBC, Witkoff relied on Russian interpreters from the Kremlin during high-level meetings with the Russian President. Specifically, he used Natalia Koskina, a 34-year-old employee of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s linguistics department, instead of bringing his own interpreter. This breach of long-standing protocol placed Witkoff at a significant disadvantage, according to former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul. Experts warn that using Kremlin interpreters risks miscommunication and prevents independent verification of messages. Witkoff met with Putin multiple times between February and April without being accompanied by usual advisors or specialists. The White House insists all security protocols were followed, but both the U.S. State Department and the Kremlin have yet to comment officially. Critics argue this approach undermines transparency and complicates coordination within the Trump administration.