Kirill Dmitriev, a senior Russian envoy and close ally of President Vladimir Putin, said Friday that Russia, the United States, and Ukraine are nearing a potential diplomatic breakthrough to end the war in Ukraine, the first such sign of optimism in months.
Speaking to CNN after arriving in Washington for talks with U.S. officials, Dmitriev said, “I believe Russia and the U.S. and Ukraine are actually quite close to a diplomatic solution.”
He declined to provide details of what such a deal might entail, but suggested recent Ukrainian flexibility over battlefield positions had opened the door to progress.
“It’s a big move by President Zelenskyy to already acknowledge that it’s about battle lines,” Dmitriev said. “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.”
The remarks come days after a planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest was postponed. Trump said on Tuesday he had called off the meeting because of Moscow’s refusal to agree to an immediate ceasefire and a lack of progress in peace talks.
Dmitriev, however, insisted that the meeting was not cancelled but merely delayed and would “likely happen at a later date.”
European diplomats have confirmed that a new ceasefire proposal, drafted with Kyiv’s input, is being discussed. The plan reportedly centers on freezing the conflict along current frontlines, a concept long resisted by Ukraine but seen as a possible interim step toward broader peace negotiations.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 and has since left tens of thousands dead, displaced millions, and drawn severe international sanctions against Moscow.
Dmitriev’s trip to Washington comes as the United States announced new sanctions targeting two of Russia’s largest oil firms, intended to increase economic pressure on the Kremlin.
Dmitriev dismissed the move, warning it would backfire. “They will only lead to gasoline costing more at American gas stations,” he said.
Despite the sanctions, Dmitriev said Moscow remains open to dialogue. “It is certainly only possible if Russia’s interests are taken into account and treated with respect,” he told Reuters.
The U.S. outlet Axios reported that Dmitriev is set to meet Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami on Saturday. Russian state media also said he would hold additional undisclosed meetings during his visit.
While concrete details remain scarce, Dmitriev’s comments reflect cautious optimism that months of deadlock may be giving way to renewed diplomacy, even as skepticism lingers over Moscow’s intentions and Ukraine’s willingness to compromise.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
