Top Kremlin official praises Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine as talks set to resume

A apical Kremlin authoritative praised President Donald Trump arsenic an effectual person seeking bid successful Ukraine, saying Moscow views renewed talks with Washington arsenic productive.

Dmitry Medvedev, lawman president of Russia’s Security Council and a erstwhile president, said Trump is genuinely trying to extremity the warfare successful Ukraine and wants to beryllium remembered arsenic a peacemaker.

"Trump wants to spell down successful past arsenic a peacemaker — and helium is truly trying," Medvedev said successful an interrogation with Reuters. "And that is wherefore contacts with Americans person go overmuch much productive."

Trump has repeatedly said a bid woody to extremity the warfare is close. U.S. peculiar envoy Steve Witkoff said during a Cabinet gathering Thursday that helium had "productive and constructive meetings" with Russian peculiar envoy Kirill Dmitriev arsenic portion of the Trump administration's ongoing effort to extremity the Russia-Ukraine war.

WITKOFF SAYS TALKS WITH RUSSIAN ENVOY WERE 'PRODUCTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE' AMID TRUMP ADMIN'S PEACE PUSH

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev attends an interrogation with Reuters, TASS and WarGonzo successful the Moscow region, Russia, connected Jan. 29, 2026. (Dmitry Medvedev's Secretariat/Handout via Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday that a caller circular of talks involving Ukraine, the United States and Russia volition instrumentality spot this week successful Abu Dhabi. His announcement comes arsenic Russia has intensified attacks connected Ukraine’s vigor and logistics infrastructure, worsening conditions for civilians arsenic wintertime temperatures plunge.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a associated property league with the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) successful Kyiv connected Feb. 10, 2025, amid the Russian penetration of Ukraine. (TETIANA DZHAFAROVA/AFP via Getty Images)

Medvedev dismissed speculation that Trump is secretly aligned with Moscow, telling the outlet that Americans elected him and Russia respects that choice. He besides praised Trump for lasting up to the U.S. governmental constitution and said his blunt, sometimes "brash" benignant is misunderstood.

ZELENSKYY ANNOUNCES NEXT ROUND OF TALKS WITH US, RUSSIA AS UKRAINE AIMS FOR 'REAL AND DIGNIFIED END TO THE WAR'

"He is an affectional person, but connected the different hand, the chaos that is commonly referred to, which is created by his activities, is not wholly true," Medvedev said. "It is evident that down this lies a wholly conscious and competent line."

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and President Donald Trump airs for a representation during their gathering astatine the 56th yearly World Economic Forum successful Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 22, 2026.  (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters)

Medvedev told the outlet that Trump’s inheritance arsenic a businessman shapes his approach, joking that determination is nary specified happening arsenic a erstwhile businessman, an echo of a well-known Russian saying astir erstwhile KGB agents.

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Medvedev, a hardliner wrong Russia’s leadership, has often warned of atomic escalation since Russia invaded Ukraine successful 2022. He has stressed that avoiding further struggle remains the priority, but inactive expects Russia to execute subject triumph successful Ukraine.

"I would similar this to hap arsenic soon arsenic possible," Medvedev said of ending the conflict. "But it is arsenic important to deliberation astir what volition hap next. The extremity of triumph is to forestall caller conflicts."