Furious insiders within the Trump administration have blasted his longtime friend and envoy to the Middle East a ‘bumbling f***ing idiot’ for his approach to negotiations with Russia.

Former real estate attorney Steve Witkoff met with Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Friday amid continuing negotiations about the end of the Ukrainian invasion.

In breaking longstanding diplomatic tradition, Witkoff attended the meeting solo, without any advisors or even a translator to help him get through the discussion.

While Putin does understand and occasionally speak English, Witkoff does not speak Russian. According to the NY Post, he has reportedly occasionally relied on Kremlin translators to pass on Putin’s message to him accurately.

While Witkoff was the solo American representative at the meeting, Putin brought along with him aide Yury Ushakov and the head of Moscow’s sovereign wealth fund, Kirill Dmitriev.

‘Nice guy, but a bumbling f***ing idiot,’ one member of the first Trump administration told the publication.

‘He should not be doing this alone.’

And amid reports Witkoff arrived without a translator, Ukrainian-Estonian translator Jaanika Merilo said: ‘It is IMPOSSIBLE to have negotiations when you do not trust the translator. 

Former real estate attorney Steve Witkoff met with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Friday amid continuing negotiations about the end of the Ukrainian invasion

Former real estate attorney Steve Witkoff met with Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Friday amid continuing negotiations about the end of the Ukrainian invasion 

In breaking longstanding diplomatic tradition, Trump's longtime friend and envoy Witkoff attended the meeting solo, without any advisors or even a translator to help him get through the discussion

In breaking longstanding diplomatic tradition, Trump’s longtime friend and envoy Witkoff attended the meeting solo, without any advisors or even a translator to help him get through the discussion

‘Witkoff does not speak Russian, and he cannot verify what is being translated. It is crucial that every nuance is translated correctly and in the context.

‘No politician goes to negotiations to hostile environment, what Russia is supposed to be, without his own translator. You do, if you really trust the other party. Or unless you are not competent. Unless you don’t care. Beats me but something is off.’

John Hardie, director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracy’s Russia program, added that Witkoff would have benefited from bringing along a team to such a high-stakes meeting.

‘Anybody engaging in these kinds of talks with Putin would benefit from having experienced Russia hands on his or her team and bringing them along to meetings with the Kremlin,’ he said.

Trump is trying to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine in an effort to bring an end to the three-year conflict.

He struck a deal with Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky this week which will  provide the US privileged access to new investment projects to develop Ukraine’s natural resources, including aluminum, graphite, oil and natural gas.

It was signed after a weeks-long push by Trump for Ukraine to compensate Washington for billions in military and economic assistance to help Ukraine repel the Russian invasion. 

Insiders are also concerned that Witkoff is spreading himself too thin with his role.

While Putin does understand and occasionally speak English, Witkoff does not speak Russian

While Putin does understand and occasionally speak English, Witkoff does not speak Russian

Retired Army Lt. Gen Keith Kellogg was initially appointed 'special envoy for Ukraine and Russia' but by mid-March, his title had been changed to 'special envoy for Ukraine' (pictured with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky)

Retired Army Lt. Gen Keith Kellogg was initially appointed ‘special envoy for Ukraine and Russia’ but by mid-March, his title had been changed to ‘special envoy for Ukraine’ (pictured with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky)

When he was handed the Middle East portfolio, he was initially focusing on the Israel-Palestine crisis and striking a deal with Iran over its nuclear weapons capabilities.

He successfully negotiated a two-month ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, but efforts to extend the deal were curtailed in March.

While Witkoff was praised for his efforts, critics said he was too willing to trust the word of the terror group and lacked the diplomatic experience to realize when he was being duped. 

Shiri Fein-Grossman, the former Head of Regional Affairs at the Israel National Security Council, said: ‘His assumption that actors like Hamas or Iran are primarily motivated by a desire to live — and can therefore be reasoned with through direct engagement — reflects a dangerous misunderstanding of their long-term ideological goals.’

‘We have to understand our enemies through their lens, not ours. Hamas and Iran are autocratic regimes driven by deep-rooted ideologies, not short-term interests.’

His work with Iran is also high-stakes and considered crucial to the safety and security of the Middle East, prompting some to question why negotiations with Russia have also been added to his workload.

Retired Army Lt. Gen Keith Kellogg was initially appointed ‘special envoy for Ukraine and Russia’ when Trump returned to the White House on January 20.

By mid-March, his title had been changed to ‘special envoy for Ukraine’ while Witkoff was given permission to negotiate directly with Moscow – essentially splitting the work of negotiating with both leaders between the two men.

Zelensky recently accused Witkoff of ‘adopting the strategy of the Russian side.’

Retired Army Lt. Gen Keith Kellogg was initially appointed 'special envoy for Ukraine and Russia' when Trump returned to the White House on January 20 (pictured together)

Retired Army Lt. Gen Keith Kellogg was initially appointed ‘special envoy for Ukraine and Russia’ when Trump returned to the White House on January 20 (pictured together)

The White House has responded to the Witkoff criticism to insist he and Trump are likeminded in their approach to 'stopping the killing and advancing peace through strength'

The White House has responded to the Witkoff criticism to insist he and Trump are likeminded in their approach to ‘stopping the killing and advancing peace through strength’

‘Consciously or not, he is spreading Russian narratives,’ he said.

Witkoff was called out for appearing to repeat Russian talking points about the war with little scrutiny, including Russia’s insistence that the war centers around the annexation of four regions.

‘They’re Russian-speaking,’ Witkoff said in March. ‘There have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule.’ 

Critics argue that Ukrainian speakers were either driven out of the regions or ordered to speak only in Russian, and that the referenda took place under Kremlin troops.

White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly defended Witkoff, arguing: ‘Steve Witkoff has done incredible work securing the release of Americans detained abroad, like Marc Fogel, while leaving behind a massive business enterprise to serve his country. 

‘Like President Trump, he is focused on stopping the killing and advancing peace through strength.’

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk