Kremlin Regrets U.S. Still Links Economic Ties to Peace in Ukraine

Oct. 1, 2026 REUTERS / Anastasia Barashkova Russia believes it could already be working with the United States on mutually beneficial economic projects, the Kremlin said Thursday, calling it unfortunate that Washington was linking progress on such initiatives to a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. “Regretfully, as before, the Americans link this entire process, despite the obvious benefit, to the Ukrainian settlement,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a daily briefing. “They say that first comes the settlement, and only then the implementation of projects. We believe we don’t have to wait, we could work for our mutual benefit right now,” Peskov said. His comments follow a visit to Washington by President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev on Monday. A U.S. official said Dmitriev held “constructive” talks on ending the war in Ukraine and possible U.S.-Russia energy initiatives in the postwar period. Reuters reported that Dmitriev met with representatives of the U.S. Treasury and Energy departments. Peskov said Dmitriev had briefed Putin on the outcome of his contacts with U.S. officials, adding that dialogue between Moscow and Washington was continuing. Earlier in September, the Kremlin said U.S. President Donald Trump urged Putin in a call to end the war in order to open up “impressive and large-scale” U.S.-Russian trade prospects. Putin was said to have responded with an “objective and thorough analysis” of the battlefield situation and his views about achieving the war’s objectives. Putin continues to demand the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the unoccupied parts of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region as a condition for peace, a stance rejected by Kyiv. Dmitriev told Reuters in June that he had remained in contact with U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during a pause in their visits to Russia. He took part in all the negotiators’ meetings with Putin, including those held in early September. On Wednesday, Peskov dismissed press reports that the Kremlin was discussing the release of political prisoners in exchange for easing U.S. sanctions. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Kremlin , United States Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more ‘Today We Celebrate’: Kremlin and Russian Propaganda Rejoice as Trump Guts RFE/RL, VOA "A dog’s death for a dog,” one former Kremlin official told The Moscow Times. 4 Min read Kremlin Says Ukraine Access to ATACMS Will Not Impact Outcome of Conflict "We will get our way. But it will cause more problems for Ukraine itself." 1 Min read Kremlin Says U.S. Aid for Ukraine Won’t Change Military Situation U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday he would advance a $61 billion package of funding for Ukraine, stalled since last year. 3 Min read Kremlin Slams U.S. 'Hysteria' Over Ukraine Conflict Western countries have accused Moscow of a troop build-up near Ukraine's borders in recent weeks.