Kremlin aide praises Trump's 'peace efforts' after Zelenskyy meeting, Putin call

In late December 2025, Kremlin aide Kirill Dmitriev publicly praised U.S. President Donald Trump's 'peace efforts' after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to the White House to discuss ending Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, posted on X that 'the whole world appreciates President Trump and his team's peace efforts,' while criticizing 'UK/EU warmongers.' The diplomatic activity followed a two-hour phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said was initiated by Trump. The talks at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 28, 2025, focused on key negotiating issues including Russian demands for Ukrainian withdrawal from the entire Donbas region in exchange for peace, while Zelenskyy proposed a 'demilitarized zone.' Both leaders indicated progress, with Trump suggesting a deal could be reached in 'a few weeks,' though major obstacles remained. The discussions occurred amid ongoing nightly drone exchanges between Ukraine and Russia, with Ukraine reporting 25 Russian drones launched overnight, 21 shot down, and Russia claiming to down 112 Ukrainian drones.