A senior figure from the Kremlin has lauded President Donald Trump for his efforts as a leader who is actively working towards peace in Ukraine. According to the official, Moscow finds the renewed dialogues with Washington to be fruitful.

Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and is a former president of Russia, expressed that Trump is sincerely striving to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Medvedev remarked that Trump aspires to be remembered as a peacemaker.

“Trump desires to be etched in history as a peacemaker, and he is genuinely making an effort,” Medvedev conveyed in a Reuters interview. “This is why our interactions with the Americans have become notably more productive.”

President Trump has frequently indicated that a peace agreement to conclude the ongoing war might be within reach. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy, noted during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday that he had “productive and constructive meetings” with Russia’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev. These discussions are part of the Trump administration’s continued endeavors to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In parallel developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Sunday that a fresh series of discussions involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia is scheduled to occur this week in Abu Dhabi. This announcement comes amid escalating Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy and transport infrastructure, which has compounded hardships for civilians as winter sets in.

Dmitry Medvedev was featured in an interview with Reuters, TASS, and WarGonzo in the Moscow region, Russia, on January 29, 2026. (Dmitry Medvedev’s Secretariat/Handout via Reuters)

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a press conference in Kyiv on Feb. 10, 2025. (Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP via Getty Images)

Medvedev dismissed speculation that Trump is secretly aligned with Moscow, telling the outlet that Americans elected him and Russia respects that choice. He also praised Trump for standing up to the U.S. political establishment and said his blunt, sometimes “brash” style is misunderstood.

“He is an emotional person, but on the other hand, the chaos that is commonly referred to, which is created by his activities, is not entirely true,” Medvedev said. “It is obvious that behind this lies a completely conscious and competent line.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and President Donald Trump meet at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 22, 2026. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters)

Medvedev told the outlet that Trump’s background as a businessman shapes his approach, joking that there is no such thing as a former businessman, an echo of a well-known Russian saying about former KGB agents.

Medvedev, a hardliner within Russia’s leadership, has frequently warned of nuclear escalation since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. He has stressed that avoiding further conflict remains the priority, but still expects Russia to achieve military victory in Ukraine.

“I would like this to happen as soon as possible,” Medvedev said of ending the conflict. “But it is equally important to think about what will happen next. The goal of victory is to prevent new conflicts.”