Kremlin envoy says EU attempting to disrupt Russia–US diplomatic contacts

Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev accused European Union countries on June 5 of attempting to undermine efforts to rebuild dialogue between Russia and the United States, saying some European actors were seeking to interfere in the process.

Speaking to Russian state television's Vesti programme, Dmitriev said Moscow remained committed to maintaining contacts with Washington despite what he described as attempts to disrupt the negotiations, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"Many are trying to derail it," Dmitriev said. "We see attempts by Europe to promote the narrative that perhaps something has slowed down in relations with the United States and that it should therefore become involved in the negotiating process. But we understand that these are simply efforts to interfere with the negotiations and disrupt them."

Dmitriev, who serves as President Vladimir Putin's special representative for international investment and economic cooperation and heads the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), argued that some European countries were opposed to the improvement of ties between Moscow and Washington.

He said dialogue between Russia and the United States was continuing and disclosed that he had held several conversations with U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff as well as American businessman Jared Kushner.

By Aghakazim Guliyev