Image: from Egyptian orchestra X@IgorLukianchuk
By Open Chronicle News Desk January 20, 2026
DAVOS, Switzerland – In a move that has stunned observers at the World Economic Forum, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev announced on Tuesday that he has engaged in “constructive” discussions with U.S. officials regarding the termination of the war in Ukraine. The meetings, held on the sidelines of the summit, occurred even though Russian representatives have officially been barred from Davos since 2022.
The revelation has raised eyebrows in Kyiv, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration is navigating a complex and often silent diplomatic channel with the Trump administration.
Russian Confidence in the Swiss Alps
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, told reporters after meeting with U.S. roving envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that “more and more people are realizing that Russia’s position is right.” While the World Economic Forum (WEF) maintains that its ties with Moscow remain frozen, the presence of Russian officials in Davos for “informal” talks with the U.S. delegation highlights a significant shift in the diplomatic landscape.
The Kremlin also confirmed that it will soon host Witkoff and Kushner in Moscow for further high-level discussions, signaling a deepening of the direct Washington-Moscow dialogue that largely bypasses traditional European intermediaries.
Top Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev is openly celebrating Trump’s war on our allies.
Putin got exactly what he paid for. pic.twitter.com/bJkQxika53
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) January 18, 2026
Zelenskyy’s “Last Mile” Optimism
Despite the high-profile nature of the U.S.-Russia talks, President Zelenskyy remains adamant that the peace process is not at a dead end. Following a weekend of “substantial consultations” with American officials in Miami, Zelenskyy expressed optimism that a $800 billion postwar reconstruction framework and binding security guarantees are within reach.
“The last mile is the hardest,” Zelenskyy remarked on Tuesday, responding to questions about a perceived silence from Washington regarding the Miami documents. “Work on the documents is ongoing. The talks are constant, and they are definitely not about a stalemate.”
JUST IN – Special presidential envoy and Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev met with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for more than two hours on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum — TASS pic.twitter.com/QatjZamZLj
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) January 20, 2026
The Shadow of Greenland and NATO
The diplomatic maneuvering in Davos is taking place against the backdrop of a major rift between the U.S. and its NATO allies over President Trump’s desire to seize Greenland. Ironically, the Kremlin has reacted to this Western internal tension with “barely disguised glee.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked that Trump would “make history” by annexing the Arctic island, while Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that such moves further undermine the “unified Western military-political bloc.” For Moscow, the friction within NATO serves as a useful distraction as it pursues its strategic goals in Ukraine.
The Cost of Defiance
While diplomats talk, the reality on the ground remains brutal. Zelenskyy revealed that Russia is increasingly overwhelming Ukrainian air defenses through sheer volume. A single combined strike recently cost Kyiv at least €80 million in interceptor missiles.
As Trump prepares to deliver a special address at Davos on Wednesday, the world is watching to see if his “peace through strength” approach will favor a sovereign Ukraine or lead to a settlement negotiated primarily between Washington and Moscow, a prospect that Kirill Dmitriev’s “constructive” talks seem to suggest is already in motion.