Key points
- Putin–Trump meeting postponed, not canceled
- Dmitriev downplays impact of US sanctions
- Ceasefire talks focus on current battle lines
MOSCOW: Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, stated that he believes Russia, the United States, and Ukraine are nearing a diplomatic resolution to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Speaking to CNN after arriving in Washington for discussions with US officials, Dmitriev said that a meeting between Donald Trump and Putin had not been cancelled, as the US president had claimed, and that the two leaders were likely to meet at a later date, reports Reuters.
The planned summit was postponed on Tuesday after Russia’s refusal to agree to an immediate ceasefire cast uncertainty over peace efforts. Trump said he had cancelled the planned meeting with Putin in Budapest due to a lack of progress in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and because the timing did not seem appropriate.
Appearing on Fox News’ “Special Report” programme, Dmitriev also expressed his view that recently imposed US sanctions on Russian oil companies would not significantly affect the Russian economy.
New ceasefire proposal
“We do not believe that these sanctions will have significant impact on the Russian economy, because oil prices in the world will rise and Russia will sell just fewer gallons of oil, but at the higher price,” he said.
However, Dmitriev reiterated on Friday, “I believe Russia and the US and Ukraine are actually quite close to a diplomatic solution.”
Dmitriev did not elaborate on what such a solution might involve. European nations are collaborating with Ukraine on a new ceasefire proposal along current frontlines, European diplomats told the media this week, largely building on ideas already under consideration while aiming to keep the United States centrally involved.
“It’s a big move by President Zelensky to already acknowledge that it’s about battle lines,” Dmitriev said. “You know, his previous position was that Russia should leave completely — so actually, I think we are reasonably close to a diplomatic solution that can be worked out.”
Trump had announced last week that he and Putin would soon meet in Hungary to work towards ending the war. However, Putin has so far been unwilling to make concessions.
Long-planned meeting
Russia has consistently demanded that Ukraine agree to surrender additional territory before any ceasefire is established. Dmitriev’s visit to the United States for a long-planned meeting comes amid newly announced US sanctions on two of Russia’s largest oil companies — a move intended to pressure Putin to end the conflict.
Despite these measures, Dmitriev insisted that dialogue between Russia and the United States would continue.
“It is certainly only possible if Russia’s interests are taken into account and treated with respect,” Dmitriev earlier told the media.
Dmitriev declined to specify whom he would be meeting.
According to the US news outlet Axios, Dmitriev is scheduled to meet Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Miami on Saturday. The Russian state news agency TASS quoted Dmitriev as saying that he would also meet other individuals whose names he did not disclose.
