The key facts

  • Kirill Dmitriev accused Zelensky on the social network X of opposing Trump and a peaceful settlement
  • The trigger was Zelensky's reaction to the November 3 midterm elections, in which the Democrats won a majority in both chambers of Congress
  • Earlier, Dmitriev had already accused Kyiv of political pressure on Republicans before the elections

Dmitriev's statement

Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president's special representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries and head of the RDIF, said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky 'has always been and acted against Trump and against peace,' and that, in his words, he simply 'used to hide it better.' He accompanied his post on the social network X with a prediction that 'President Trump's peace initiatives will succeed despite belligerent resistance.' This was reported by Gazeta.Ru and Life.ru.

Zelensky's reaction to the elections prompted the statement

The statement was prompted by the Ukrainian leader's reaction to the US midterm elections held on November 3. As a result of the vote, the Democratic Party secured a majority in both chambers of Congress, and the new, 120th session of the legislature will begin on January 3, 2027. In an interview with the German TV channel ZDF, Zelensky welcomed the Democrats' success, noting their readiness to increase aid to Kyiv, but at the same time thanked the Republicans as well, expressing hope for the preservation of bipartisan support for Ukraine. According to him, an increase in American arms supplies and financial aid could influence Moscow's position and bring negotiations closer.

Background and assessments

This is not the first accusation Dmitriev has made against Zelensky: back on November 2, before the vote, he criticized the Ukrainian politician for an interview with the American TV channel Fox News, in which Zelensky suggested that Washington seek an energy truce with Russia. At the time, the head of the RDIF stated that Kyiv continues to exert political pressure on Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. After the Democrats' victory, Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, doubted that the change of majority in Congress would help Zelensky: in his assessment, Washington's foreign policy course is determined primarily by the president and the secretary of state, the Democrats will only be able to influence funding for individual initiatives, and Trump will retain the right of veto. Gazeta.Ru also notes that Europe previously reacted skeptically to the Ukraine deal announced by Trump.