Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, returned from negotiations in the United States and gave a positive assessment.
On December 23 (local time), Russian daily Kommersant reported that Dmitriev, acting as Putin's special envoy, is scheduled to brief President Vladimir Putin on the results of his negotiations with the U.S. delegation in Miami, Florida.
Although the details of the negotiations have not been released, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy, described the talks as "productive and constructive," offering a positive evaluation.
Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin foreign policy advisor, stated that Dmitriev's report would help determine whether Russia could accept proposals from Ukraine and European countries.
Dmitriev met with the U.S. delegation, including Steve Witkoff-special envoy for President Donald Trump-and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, in Miami from December 20 to 21 to discuss a revised plan for peace in Ukraine.
After drafting the Ukraine peace plan, the United States contacted both Ukraine and Russia separately. In mid-December, the U.S. also met with Ukrainian and European delegations in Berlin, Germany, and revised the plan to reflect their input.
The original U.S. plan reportedly incorporated many of Russia's positions, such as conceding the Donbas territories (Donetsk and Luhansk) in eastern Ukraine to Russia, which triggered strong opposition from Ukraine and Europe. Issues surrounding territorial concessions and security guarantees for Ukraine remain key points of contention.
Advisor Ushakov stated, "Dmitriev must bring back the 'signals' received from Europe and Ukraine by the United States."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian daily Izvestia, "The most important thing is to obtain the results of the consultations between the United States, Europe, and Ukraine," adding, "We will be able to assess how well these outcomes align with the 'Anchorage spirit.'"
The "Anchorage spirit" appears to refer to the agreements reached between President Putin and President Trump during their summit in Anchorage, Alaska, in August. While President Putin has not disclosed the specifics of the Anchorage agreement, he previously evaluated that its contents could serve as the foundation for a settlement on the Ukraine issue.
Spokesperson Peskov gave a negative response when asked whether the Miami negotiations could serve as a breakthrough in resolving the Ukraine issue. He explained, "This is a work in progress. We have said that a very meticulous process at the expert level is necessary."
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