Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy close to President Vladimir Putin, said there has been progress and positive momentum in negotiations over a peace deal for Ukraine as delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States prepared to meet in Abu Dhabi.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting in the east. The conflict has become the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two and the most serious standoff between Moscow and Western countries since the Cold War.
Dmitriev, who has been a key figure in US-mediated discussions, told reporters that efforts to derail the talks were ongoing, pointing to interference from some European countries and Britain. He argued that such attempts only underscore that tangible progress is being made and described the overall trajectory as moving in a positive direction.
He also said work was under way to restore broader ties with the United States, including cooperation inside a US–Russia economic working group.
The working group last met in Miami on Jan. 31. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attended that meeting along with Dmitriev, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who serves as an envoy for US President Donald Trump.
