Putin’s Game Isn’t Peace—It’s Control
By pitting Kirill Dmitriev against Sergey Lavrov, Vladimir Putin ensures that Ukraine peace talks remain stalled—by design.
This week, Dmitriev, a once-obscure figure who has become Putin’s unlikely point man on Ukraine, confirmed a new round of U.S.-Russia negotiations over a potential ceasefire. The date and location remain undisclosed. The announcement follows his meetings with Trump administration officials in Washington, which Dmitriev described as “respectful.”
Despite his growing role, Russia’s Foreign Ministry has remained silent about Dmitriev’s visit, and the Kremlin confirmed that no call between Putin and Trump is currently planned.
Meanwhile, frustration is building in Washington. Trump has publicly criticized Putin and his team for dragging out the talks, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the U.S. won’t tolerate “endless negotiations.”
A House Divided: The Kremlin's Split Strategy
Beneath the surface of diplomacy lies a deliberate Kremlin ploy. According to sources, Putin has divided his negotiating power between two rival teams: Dmitriev’s group and the Foreign Ministry led by Lavrov. Each receives conflicting instructions, a classic Putin tactic to retain control through internal competition.
The dysfunction played out during February 18 talks in Riyadh. Before the meeting, Putin reportedly told Lavrov the Russian delegation would include only Lavrov and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. But after a separate meeting with Dmitriev, Putin apparently gave him permission to attend—without informing Lavrov.
At the negotiation table, when Lavrov saw a third chair reserved for Dmitriev, he reportedly pushed it away, saying, “If he wants to participate, let Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] tell me himself.” Lavrov briefly left the room; when he returned, Dmitriev had taken a seat just as the Americans reentered—leaving Lavrov little room to protest. Dmitriev asked to speak for “just 15 minutes,” according to a source.
Official footage from the meeting later showed only Lavrov and Ushakov representing Russia.
More Than Just Washington
Though Dmitriev’s visit to Washington was initially low-profile, it involved more than Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff. CNN later confirmed that Secretary Rubio also met with Dmitriev, as did Senators Graham and Mullin.
Rubio commented on the meeting, saying it wasn’t confrontational but clear: “This is our timeline, and soon it will be obvious whether you want peace or not. That time is coming—and it’s short.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes Dmitriev’s true goal is broader than peace talks. He suspects Moscow’s top priority is reclaiming the $300 billion frozen under sanctions—particularly those imposed by Europe. Zelenskyy insists that only pressure through sanctions can bring Russia to the table sincerely.
Conflicting Agendas, Contradictory Messaging
As Lavrov and Dmitriev compete behind closed doors, the Kremlin is executing a dual public messaging strategy tailored to different audiences.
While Dmitriev courted American lawmakers, Russian state media painted a wildly different picture. On state TV, Kremlin propagandist Olga Skabeeva claimed, “It’s not Russians who want sanctions lifted—it's American businesses. They’ve lost $300 billion and want back in.”
This directly contradicts Lavrov’s position in official negotiations, where lifting sanctions on Rosselkhozbank is a core Russian demand for any Black Sea ceasefire deal. The dissonance is emblematic of Putin’s two-track strategy: keep talks going, keep the pressure low, and keep control centralized.
Following his U.S. meetings, Dmitriev gave interviews to both Russian and Western outlets, including CNN, Fox News, and Newsmax. He claimed Russia doesn’t seek sanctions relief and that “many Russians believe sanctions have actually helped the economy.” He also repeated the inflated claim that U.S. companies lost $324 billion leaving the Russian market.
Both claims are false. Kremlin officials have made sanctions relief a central demand, and Reuters estimates U.S. business losses at around $107 billion—far below Dmitriev’s figures.
Ceasefire Stalled as Putin Weighs Next Move
Dmitriev wrapped up his visit to the U.S. last Thursday. American officials are now waiting for him to brief Putin before further action.
Trump’s advisers have warned against contacting Putin until Russia shows genuine interest in a ceasefire. Still, Politico reports European leaders expect a call between Trump and Putin soon. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “There is nothing on the schedule for now.”
Tensions between Trump and Putin have reportedly escalated. Trump was said to be “pissed off” when Putin questioned Zelenskyy’s legitimacy and has even threatened secondary sanctions on Russian oil if no progress is made by next month. Bloomberg reports both the White House and State Department believe Putin is resisting peace.
Yet Kremlin sources say Russia still believes Trump may deliver a deal favorable to Moscow. If not, they’re prepared to keep fighting. Trump’s threats don’t appear to worry them much—they believe Putin sees this as a rare chance to shape the post-war order on his own terms.
The Shadow Broker Steps Into the Light
Until recently, Kirill Dmitriev was a quiet figure operating in the margins of Russian geopolitics. Now, he’s arguably the second most powerful man in Russia—at least on matters of war and peace. But his rise is less about diplomacy and more about Putin’s signature move: playing powerbrokers off one another to keep absolute control.
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