A few days ago, I sent out a reference to a piece by John Helmer, long-time and respected independent analyst resident in Moscow. Its main theme was that the extensive negotiations between Dmitriev and Witkoff over the past few months focused on prospective wide -ranging economic ties that could encourage settlement of the Ukraine conflict. The arrangements considered would run counter to the emphasis now placed by Russia on minimizing dependence om Western technology, capital and manufactured goods. Helmer, drawing on government sources in Moscow and observed signs, put forward the proposition that Putin himself has devised and promoted this approach as providing incentives for Trump/Washington to accept the fundamental elements of the Russian position regarding terms for resolution of the multifaceted Ukraine issue - as clearly stated by Putin in his June 14 2024 address - principles that the Americans never have acknowledged (although Moscow claims that Trump personally did so at Anchorage).
Now, as if in response to this interpretation, Dmitriev publicly has declared that all such reports are false - indeed, "fake news."
His remarks and their significance are discussed today by Alexander Mercouris on YouTube at:
I will refrain from commenting other than to note that the truth remains elusive. Surely, the great number of hours that Dmitriev and Witkoff spent in dense exchanges on a wide range of the two countries' economic dealings - past, present and future - were not casual speculations and chit-chat. Moreover, the first of these meetings were kept secret, and even denied. More recently, there has been recorded elbowing between Lavrov and
Dmitriev as to who would be in room when high-level meetings with the Americans were being held. Finally, last week Lavrov personally and publicly uncharacteristically attacked what he saw as the current misguided Kremlin (Putin) line which included veiled references to the Dmitriev-Witkoff pas de deux. Apparently, such criticism often is expressed by Russian commentators and is shared by prominent members of the Russian Security Council.
Where does the truth lie? That is not a question for a distant, amateur observer to pronounce on. I'll rest content with having had the opportunity to get the spelling of Dmitriev's name right.
Cheers
Michael Brenner