Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide Kirill Dmitriev has suggested that Russia, the United States, and Ukraine are “quite close” to achieving a diplomatic breakthrough to end the ongoing war.
Speaking to CNN after arriving in Washington for meetings with U.S. officials, Dmitriev emphasized that the planned summit between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump had been postponed rather than cancelled, asserting that dialogue remains active despite fresh U.S. sanctions on Russia’s energy sector.
The long-anticipated Putin-Trump meeting, initially set to take place in Budapest, was delayed after Trump cited Russia’s refusal to agree to an immediate ceasefire.
Dmitriev, however, dismissed suggestions of a diplomatic breakdown, hinting that backchannel negotiations are continuing and expressing optimism about a possible resolution. He also commended Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s recent acknowledgment of battle lines as a basis for potential ceasefire discussions, calling it a significant step toward compromise.
European diplomats, quoted by Reuters, confirmed that EU nations are drafting a new ceasefire framework designed to align with ongoing U.S.-led mediation efforts. Dmitriev highlighted this coordinated approach as evidence of renewed international momentum toward peace.
His visit to Washington comes days after the U.S. imposed new sanctions on two Russian oil companies, a move aimed at tightening economic pressure on Moscow.
Dmitriev warned that such measures could “backfire” by increasing fuel prices in the U.S., while maintaining that “dialogue between Russia and the United States will continue.”
Axios reported that Dmitriev is scheduled to meet Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami, along with other undisclosed meetings. Analysts say his remarks reflect a cautious optimism but stress that any breakthrough will depend on tangible political concessions and sustained commitment from all sides to de-escalation and peace.
