Kremlin Envoyé in Washington: Insight into Trump's Russia-Ukraine policy

Kremlin Envoyé in Washington: Insight into Trump's Russia-Ukraine policy

The White House is showing its true colors on Ukraine. While the Trump administration imposed drastic trade tariffs on 185 countries this week, it secretly lifted travel restrictions on one of Vladimir Putin's closest advisers to allow him to hold talks in Washington.

Kirill Dmitriev: A key player

Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president's financial expert and head of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, arrived in the US capital for his first visit since Putin's invasion of Ukraine three years ago. This suggests that President Donald Trump dreams of a new U.S.-Russia business relationship even as he wages a trade war against the wealthier and more diverse economies of U.S. allies.

Criticism of Ukraine

But the visit wasn't the only indication of Trump's position this week. The president also criticized Zelensky, accusing him of sabotaging the latest draft of a long-delayed deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earths. No Ukrainian president could ever accept this “agreement”. The new version would give the U.S. veto power over a new body that would decide how the resources are used and state that Ukraine would not benefit from the proceeds until the U.S. recovers all of its war effort — a figure that Trump grossly exaggerates at over $350 billion.

Exploitation of resources and conflict politics

These draconian conditions demonstrate an attempt to plunder Ukraine's resources and force the war-ravaged country to pay compensation to a third party - the United States. Trump emphasizes that he just wants to stop the killing in Ukraine, which is a laudable goal. But in another sign of his priorities, Defense Minister Pete Hegseth was unlikely to appear at the next Ukrainian Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels. The US had recently handed over control of the monthly meetings to the UK, and this could be the first time in three years that a senior Pentagon official is not present.

Stagnation of the peace talks

All of this comes as Trump's attempt to end the war — which he once said could be accomplished in 24 hours — has stalled. Two supposed breakthroughs celebrated by the White House, a halt to attacks on energy facilities and a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, have stalled. In addition, Russia's new demands for access to international banking and trade require the approval of America's skeptical allies in Europe.

US concessions and insider reports

Despite all this, US concessions continue to come. The temporary suspension of Dmitriev's status as a pariah is just the youngest. The Kremlin insider told CNN that the Trump team had already effected the first de-escalation of the war and praised Steve Witkoff, the US envoy who has been announcing Putin's talks strategy since his meeting with the Russian president.

Trump's perception of Putin

US media were abuzz last weekend when Trump made rare criticism of Putin, telling NBC he was "angry" that he had questioned Zelensky's legitimacy. Trump's calming of tensions received less attention when he told reporters on Air Force One that he believes Putin wants peace. “I don’t think he’ll go back on his words,” he added, “I’ve known him for a long time.”

Putin's true intentions

But it's becoming clear that Trump doesn't know Putin as well as he thinks. The administration's frantic and fruitless diplomacy over Ukraine has shown the Russian leader doing what Moscow always does: talking and fighting at the same time to delay the peace process and strengthen Russia's position on the battlefield.

An end to the war seems far away

“For a war to end, at least one of the parties has to change its war goals,” said Hein Goemans, a political science professor at the University of Rochester and an expert on late-stage conflicts. “Russia has not really changed its war aims,” followed an initial reassessment when the Blitzkrieg failed to take Kiev and overthrow Zelensky. Putin still wants to consolidate control over the conquered eastern regions, suppress Ukraine's efforts to assimilate with the West and replace Zelensky with a pro-Moscow leader. Putin's warnings that the "root causes of war" must be addressed are also code for a NATO withdrawal from Eastern Europe.

Current developments and perceptions

The view that Putin does not want to end the war anytime soon received further confirmation this week when he mobilized 160,000 more men. The most senior US military commander in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, called Russia a "chronic threat" and "growing threat" willing to use military force to achieve its geopolitical goals.

The most charitable interpretation of the White House's position is that it has not yet recognized these important dynamics in the peace negotiations. A darker view is that it has done so but is actually not interested and still wants to embrace Putin.