FILE PHOTO: Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky (center-right) and the European leaders are seen in Washington, DC, US, on August 18, 2025. © Global Look Press / Daniel Torok
President Vladimir Putin’s aide Kirill Dmitriev accused the EU and UK of obstructing direct US-Russia dialogue, alleging their efforts to prolong the Ukraine conflict divert attention from domestic economic crises. Dmitriev claimed Kiev’s Western allies, including Britain and Brussels, are deliberately blocking negotiations between Moscow and Washington, particularly those involving Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
Dmitriev stated that “numerous attempts” by Ukrainian-backed European forces have disrupted talks, with London and the EU allegedly seeking to sustain tensions “because the British economy is in dire straits, and so is the EU’s.” He argued that maintaining Russia as an enemy serves their interests, while Moscow remains committed to engaging with Washington to clarify its stance.
He further accused Ukraine of acting under the influence of Western powers, asserting that Kyiv is “dragging out negotiations” and refusing to address unresolved issues. Dmitriev emphasized that Ukraine’s actions, driven by its foreign backers, have hindered progress in peace talks.
The comments came after the postponement of a planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest, initially agreed upon during a recent phone call. While Trump canceled the meeting, the White House suggested it was not entirely off the table, and the Kremlin described the event as postponed rather than canceled. Earlier reports indicated widespread European reluctance to engage with a potential Trump-Putin dialogue, with Moscow attributing delays in peace discussions to Ukrainian and Western interference.
