Positive Shifts in US-Russia Dialogue Amid Ukraine Conflict Negotiations
Kirill Dmitriev, the special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, recently indicated that there have been advancements in talks with the United States following two days of discussions in Washington with members of the Trump Administration. This information was reported by the Russian news agency TASS. Dmitriev noted, "I would say that today and yesterday we made three steps forward on a large number of topics," highlighting the significance of his visit as the first high-ranking Russian official to travel to the U.S. since the onset of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.
In an interview with Fox News, while accusing Ukraine of targeting Russian energy facilities, Dmitriev characterized the Washington discussions as yielding positive outcomes. He suggested that the Kremlin could potentially provide security guarantees to Kyiv—though specifics were not disclosed. Notably, he firmly rejected the possibility of Ukraine becoming a NATO member. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that only security assurances, including NATO membership or the presence of American and European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, can safeguard against further Russian aggression.
Dmitriev's statements mark a departure from the Kremlin's previous position, wherein President Putin had argued that peace is conditional on Ukraine's demilitarization. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has consistently opposed the deployment of European peacekeeping forces in the region. Instead, Dmitriev indicated that attempts at dialogue have been frozen for three years, suggesting that the path to negotiation and resolution would require patience, yet he described the current discussions as positive and constructive.
During his visit, Dmitriev met with Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoy for the Middle East and Russia, amid President Trump's announcement of a 10% tariff affecting most nations—Russia notably excluded from this list. In a CNN interview, Dmitriev asserted that there is a mutual understanding of how to progress towards a final accord, stating, "There has been much discussion about this; many differences still persist, but I believe there are several ways to address all those issues. A diplomatic solution is the only way forward."
He emphasized that discussions did not encompass lifting sanctions on Russia, although he welcomed American businesses wishing to operate within the country. This visit coincides with Trump's increasing frustration towards Russia due to its refusal to accept a truce that Ukraine has agreed to. Dmitriev plays a pivotal role in the negotiations being conducted independently by the Trump Administration with both Moscow and Kyiv to bring an end to the conflict that erupted following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Additionally, Dmitriev has been involved in talks held in Saudi Arabia and was instrumental in the release of American academic Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since 2021. Notably, Dmitriev had been sanctioned by the Biden Administration for his role in the invasion of Ukraine; however, this sanction was temporarily lifted to allow his visit to the United States last week.
Related Sources: