Putin's Envoy Returns from U.S.: "Set to Report on Negotiations"

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.

According to a report by Yonhap News Agency, the Russian daily Kommersant reported on the 23rd (local time) that Dmitriev, as Putin's envoy, will brief President Vladimir Putin on the outcome of his negotiations with the U.S. delegation in Miami, Florida.

Although the details of the negotiations were not disclosed, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy, described the talks as "productive and constructive."

Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin aide on foreign policy, said that Dmitriev's report would help determine whether the proposals from Ukraine and European countries could be accepted.

Dmitriev held discussions on a revised Ukraine peace plan with U.S. representatives, including Witkoff, who is the special envoy of President Donald Trump, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, in Miami on December 20-21.

After drafting the Ukraine peace plan, the United States contacted both Ukraine and Russia separately, and in mid-December, met with Ukrainian and European delegations in Berlin, Germany, to revise the plan based on their feedback.

The initial U.S. plan was reported to have largely reflected Russia's position, including ceding the eastern Donbas region (Donetsk and Luhansk) to Russia, which triggered strong opposition from Ukraine and Europe. Territorial issues and security guarantees for Ukraine remain core points of contention.

Ushakov said, "Dmitriev must bring back the 'signals' the United States has received from Europe and Ukraine."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the Russian daily Izvestia, "The most important thing is to obtain the contents of the consultations between the United States, Europe, and Ukraine," adding, "We will be able to assess how much the results of these consultations correspond to the 'Anchorage spirit.'"

The 'Anchorage spirit' appears to refer to the agreements reached during the summit between President Putin and President Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, in August. While President Putin has not specifically disclosed the contents of the Anchorage agreement, he has previously stated that it could serve as a foundation for a settlement of the Ukraine issue.

When asked whether the Miami negotiations could be a breakthrough in resolving the Ukraine issue, spokesperson Peskov responded negatively. He explained, "This is a work process. We have said that a very meticulous process at the expert level is necessary."