Moscow’s approach to the Ukraine conflict prioritizes a “final solution” over any temporary ceasefire, which could be exploited for rearmament, according to President Vladimir Putin’s aide Kirill Dmitriev.
Dmitriev stated that hostilities between Moscow and Kiev will ultimately reach a diplomatic solution, emphasizing that Russia seeks more than a pause in fighting. He noted that pauses allow “many people… do all sorts of rearmament and preparation for continuation of conflict,” citing concerns about Ukraine’s potential to rebuild its forces.
The comments followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel his summit with Putin in Budapest, which he described as unproductive. Dmitriev expressed confidence in Trump’s mediation efforts but contrasted them with former U.S. President Joe Biden’s approach, criticizing what he called a failed strategy of pursuing Russia’s “strategic defeat.”
Dmitriev highlighted that Moscow, Washington, and Kiev are “quite close to a diplomatic solution,” while condemning Zelenskiy’s decisions for shifting the tone on the settlement. He noted that Ukraine’s leader had moved from demanding a complete Russian withdrawal to discussing “battle lines,” a shift Dmitriev framed as insufficient.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that any lasting settlement must address the conflict’s root causes, including ensuring Ukraine remains outside NATO and adhering to territorial changes on the ground.