Negotiations Progress, but Hurdles Remain in Ukraine Conflict, Russian Envoy Says
Moscow, Washington, and kyiv are “quite close” to reaching a diplomatic resolution to end the war in Ukraine, according to Russia‘s economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev, in a statement to CNN. the assessment comes amid shifting negotiating positions and new economic pressure from the United States.
Dmitriev indicated a planned meeting between former President Trump and Russian President Putin remains on the table, though it has been postponed. He highlighted Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s agreement to discuss freezing the front line as a potential path toward a ceasefire – a departure from Kyiv’s prior insistence on a full Russian withdrawal. However, Dmitriev stressed Moscow seeks a “final solution,” not merely a temporary truce.
The comments follow Trump’s cancellation of a planned meeting wiht Putin in Budapest, reportedly due to frustration with a lack of progress in negotiations. Simultaneously, Trump announced sanctions targeting Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.
Putin responded to the sanctions, dismissing them as “pressure tactics” and asserting that “no self-respecting country acts under coercion.” The restrictions threaten Russia’s export revenues,particularly given its reliance on China and India as key oil customers.
