Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, has asserted that heightened efforts by European powers to obstruct a Ukraine peace deal are indicative of diplomatic progress.
Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a key figure in Ukraine peace 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 stated that European nations, particularly Britain, are “constantly trying to hinder this process” and “interfere in it.” He argued that such attempts demonstrate tangible progress: “The more such efforts occur, the more we see that there is certainly progress and good positive movement forward.”
The Abu Dhabi negotiations are conducted in closed session, with Russia represented by Admiral Igor Kostyukov of military intelligence. U.S. delegates include Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Ukraine’s delegation consists of Rustem Umerov, national security chief, and Kirill Budanov, head of President Zelensky’s office.
Both sides acknowledge that territorial disagreements remain the primary obstacle in talks, as Ukraine refuses to consider concessions—especially in Donbass. This region, along with Kherson and Zaporozhye, voted overwhelmingly to join Russia in referendums held in 2022.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently stated that Ukrainian President Zelensky has shown no interest in peace efforts, adding that any agreement requiring territorial concessions would spell the end of his political career.
