Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, stated that Moscow, Washington, and Kyiv are “reasonably close” to reaching a diplomatic solution to end the war in Ukraine.
Dmitriev’s optimistic assessment comes amid fresh tensions, including new U.S. sanctions targeting Russia’s oil sector and the postponement of a planned summit between President Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Summit Postponed, Dialogue Continues
The highly anticipated meeting between Putin and Trump in Budapest has been put on hold.
- Trump’s Reason: President Trump previously announced the summit to discuss a ceasefire and peace framework but later said it was “on hold.” He cited Russia’s refusal to accept an immediate ceasefire as the main reason for postponing the talks.
- Dmitriev’s View: Dmitriev insisted the meeting has not been canceled, but will “probably take place at a later date.” He stressed that dialogue remains active but warned: “The Russia–US dialogue will continue… but it is certainly only possible if Russia’s interests are taken into account and treated with respect.”
A “Big Move” Toward Peace
Dmitriev pointed to a shift in Kyiv’s negotiating position as a sign of major progress toward a settlement.
“I believe Russia and the US and Ukraine are actually quite close to a diplomatic solution,” Dmitriev said. He highlighted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s acknowledgement that a resolution is “about battle lines,” noting this is a departure from his previous position that “Russia should leave completely.”
However, Ukrainian officials have not confirmed direct involvement in backchannel negotiations, and President Zelenskyy has maintained that Kyiv will not accept any deal that legitimizes Russian occupation.
Sanctions Won’t Stop Talks
Dmitriev arrived in the United States just as Washington unveiled new sanctions on two of Russia’s biggest oil firms.
Appearing on Fox News, he dismissed the sanctions’ impact and suggested they could backfire:
- Dismissing the Threat: Dmitriev said, “We do not believe these sanctions will have a significant impact.”
- Warning of Consequences: He predicted that the move will “only lead to gasoline costing more at American gas stations,” adding that higher global oil prices could ultimately offset Russia’s losses.
Dmitriev is expected to continue diplomatic efforts with a meeting in Miami on Saturday with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff. While he declined to provide specifics on other meetings, he said discussions would focus on “economic cooperation and investment.”
