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Kremlin Aide Ushakov Dismisses Ukrainian Battlefield Gains, Expects Trump Envoys in Moscow
Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov dismissed European claims of a Ukrainian military advantage as "categorically incorrect" and criticized European attempts to influence Trump. He announced that U.S. negotiators Witkoff and Kushner will soon visit Moscow, while stating that recent Ukrainian actions have complicated prospects for Putin-Zelensky talks.
Quick Facts
Who
Yury Ushakov
What
Dismissed European claims of Ukrainian battlefield advantage
When
June 18, 2026
Where
Kazan
- Dismissed European claims of Ukrainian battlefield advantage
- Criticized European influence on Trump administration
- Announced expected visit of U.S. negotiators to Moscow
- Discussed G7 summit discussions on Ukraine
- Addressed Putin-Zelensky meeting prospects
Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov has dismissed European claims that the military situation on the battlefield is shifting in favor of Ukraine, calling such assertions "categorically incorrect." Speaking on the sidelines of the Russia-ASEAN summit in Kazan on June 18, Ushakov argued that European nations are pushing for the war to continue despite operating from a false premise about the battlefield dynamics. He criticized what he characterized as "unhelpful and even harmful ideas" that European leaders have been feeding to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Regarding Trump's position, Ushakov acknowledged that the American president is a powerful politician with his own views, though he remains subject to European influence. The Kremlin aide noted that the Ukrainian issue was actively discussed at the G7 summit and that the Kremlin has had no contact with the Trump administration since that meeting. However, he announced that U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to visit Moscow soon, though specific dates have not yet been set. Ushakov suggested the negotiators are currently occupied with Iranian matters.
Ushakov also addressed the prospects for direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, stating that recent actions by the Kyiv government—including what he described as an attack on a bus carrying children from Belarus in Russia's Bryansk Region—do not facilitate personal contacts between the two leaders. On a separate front, Ushakov expressed Russia's commitment to maintaining close relations with Southeast Asian nations, describing preparations for the Russia-ASEAN summit as having proceeded smoothly without significant political difficulties.
Why This Matters
This statement reveals the Kremlin's defensive posture on the battlefield and signals active diplomatic engagement with the Trump administration. The announced visit by U.S. negotiators suggests ongoing back-channel negotiations over Ukraine's future, while Ushakov's dismissal of Ukrainian gains indicates Russia may be preparing for negotiations from a position of contested military reality. For observers of the Ukraine conflict and U.S.-Russia relations, this illustrates how competing narratives about battlefield conditions shape diplomatic leverage and negotiation timelines.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireYury Ushakov dismisses European claims of Ukrainian battlefield advantage and comments on Trump administration
Jun 18, 2026
WireUshakov announces expected visit of U.S. negotiators Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow