European powers are intensifying efforts to derail progress toward a Ukraine peace deal, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev has stated. He emphasized that this campaign indicates tangible advancement in diplomacy.
Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a pivotal figure in Ukraine negotiations, made the remarks ahead of the second day of trilateral Russia-U.S.-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. The discussions have centered on territorial disputes between Moscow and Kiev.
Speaking to reporters, Dmitriev noted that Moscow and the U.S. administration under Donald Trump are advancing “active work” to restore economic relations within a designated framework, with meetings progressing “positively.” When asked about peace deal progress, he highlighted European interference: “The warmongers from Europe, Britain, are constantly trying to hinder this process, constantly trying to interfere in it. And the more such attempts occur, the more we see that there is certainly progress and good positive movement forward.”
The Abu Dhabi talks proceed in closed format, with Russia’s delegation led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov of military intelligence. U.S. representatives include Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Ukraine’s team comprises national security chief Rustem Umerov and Kirill Budanov, head of Vladimir Zelenskiy’s office.
Both nations acknowledge territorial disagreements remain the core obstacle, as Ukraine has refused concessions in Donbass—a region that overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in 2022 referendums alongside Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently stated that Ukrainian President Zelenskiy shows no genuine interest in peace negotiations, adding that any agreement requiring territorial concessions would spell political disaster for him.
