Kirill Dmitriev said on Feb. 5 there has been "positive movement" in peace negotiations over Ukraine as delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. prepared to meet in Abu Dhabi. He accused "warmongers" in Europe and Britain of trying to interfere with the process and said such meddling underscores emerging progress. Dmitriev also reported active work to restore ties with the United States through a U.S.-Russia economic working group, which met in Miami on Jan. 31 and included Scott Bessent, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Dmitriev Says 'Positive Movement' in Ukraine Peace Talks Ahead of Abu Dhabi Meeting
FILE PHOTO: Russia's top economic negotiator Kirill Dmitriev attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (both not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on August 7, 2025. ALEXANDER NEMENOV/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
MOSCOW, Feb 5 — Kirill Dmitriev, President Vladimir Putin's envoy, said on Thursday there has been progress and "positive movement" in negotiations over peace in Ukraine as delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States prepared to meet in Abu Dhabi.
Dmitriev, who serves as Putin's investment envoy and has been involved in U.S.-mediated discussions, told reporters that efforts to disrupt the talks were only underscoring that momentum was building.
"Warmongers in Europe and Britain are constantly trying to interfere with this process, constantly trying to meddle in it," he said. "The more such attempts there are, the more we see that progress is definitely being made. There is positive movement forward."
Context and Background
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting in the east, triggering the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two and the most serious confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War era.
U.S.-Russia Economic Engagement
Dmitriev also said active work was underway to restore relations with the United States, including cooperation within a U.S.-Russia working group on economic issues. He noted that the working group is a forum for technical and economic discussions even as political negotiations continue.
The working group's previous meeting took place in Miami on January 31 and included Dmitriev along with U.S. participants Scott Bessent, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who attended in an advisory capacity.
As talks in Abu Dhabi approach, Dmitriev framed outside criticism as interference that paradoxically highlights the talks' forward motion. Observers will be watching whether the scheduled meetings yield concrete steps toward a durable ceasefire or a framework for negotiations.
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