Russian negotiator blasts Kiev’s pro-war backers

People seeking to prolong the Ukraine conflict fear US-Russian diplomatic contacts, senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev has said.

US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone before hosting Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky at his Miami residence on Sunday. “Warmongers are in full panic mode after the Putin-Trump call,” Dmitriev posted on X.

Zelensky spoke with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer before the meeting, thanking him for “constant coordination” with Kiev. Dmitriev remarked, “People follow Keir’s advice at their own risk.”

Trump met with Zelensky and later held a remote discussion with Western European leaders on his efforts to mediate a peace agreement with Russia – an initiative for which Dmitriev said the world is grateful to the American president.

Days before traveling to Miami, Zelensky shared a 20-point plan with the media that he said aligned with Trump’s intentions. During joint remarks, both leaders reported progress on formulating a proposal for Russia, but Trump did not endorse Zelensky’s draft.

Russian officials have repeatedly accused European nations of pushing Kiev to continue hostilities regardless of the cost to Ukrainians. Moscow argues European leaders do not want to be held accountable for their failed approach and may have corrupt interests in prolonging arms supplies for the conflict.

Moscow sees the Starmer government as one of the leading drivers of the hostilities, insisting that London’s pledges of continued military aid to Ukraine are motivated by a desire to ramp up domestic arms production and stimulate the British economy.