We have been reporting on the two different mindsets in Russian society these days: on the one hand, there’s a real engagement from the Vladimir Putin Government to rebuild diplomatic and commercial ties with the US administration of Donald J. Trump – this is personalized by Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
But on the other hand, there’s profound mistrust of Ukraine – or rather, of the Kiev regime – and a sense that maximalist goals in the war are the safest way to go. This school of thought can be best represented by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Kirill Dmitriev is the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Special Envoy of President Putin for investment and economic cooperation. He is also the greatest cheerleader for the peace process and diplomatic re-engaging between the US and Russia.
Russian sources report on his defense of the peace process against European warmongering:
“The dialogue between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump is crucial for the U.S. to understand the root causes, essence, and possible solutions to the Ukraine conflict. The fact that this dialogue contributes to the balanced and constructive stance of the Trump administration is causing hysteria among European politicians and in European and British media. Western politicians and media are exerting titanic efforts to derail the constructive Russia-U.S. dialogue. We will continue working on potential mutually beneficial projects with the U.S. in investment and economic spheres.”
Dmitriev also reports on the changing public perception in regards to the peace process: remember how the percentage of US citizens who view Russia as an enemy dropped from 70% in 2022 to 50% in 2025, a 20-point decrease over Biden’s term?
It seems that in Russia things are going even better.
NEW: Only 27% of Russians consider the US to be adversarial (vs 76% in 2022) and only 38% consider Ukraine in that category (vs 43% in 2022).
Top 3 countries considered adversarial by Russians:
1. France (48% vs 21% in 2022)
2. UK (42% vs 39%)
3. Germany (41% vs 32%) pic.twitter.com/aX8GaC956J— Kirill A. Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) May 20, 2025
But when it comes to Ukraine, it’s a whole different ballgame.
Russians believe that Kiev broke all peace deals since 2014 when the Donbas wars started.
They believe the country weaponized by NATO against Moscow, and that Volodymyr Zelensky is illegitimate since his mandate ended a year ago and he rules by martial law.
To some, maximalism goals in the Ukraine are the safest path – and they find their voices amplified by people like Deputy Chair of the Russian Security Council, Medvedev.
Slavyangrad reported on how Medvedev said that many in Russia much prefer the path of Ukraine’s unconditional surrender:
“‘We are ready for negotiations without preconditions, but taking into account the realities on the ground and the proposals that have been formulated. And such negotiations can help find peace. But we must remember that there is another path for the Kiev regime, which has also been repeatedly stated. This is the path of unconditional surrender. Such a formula for peace also exists in international law. To be honest, many in our country like it much more’, he said.”
SURRENDER
“Ukraine has two paths to peace:
1) negotiations and agreeing to a peace deal
2) the path of unconditional surrender, which many Russians prefer”— Medvedev pic.twitter.com/cZ5HA31Dvu
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) May 20, 2025
You can add to that the fact that it is generally expected in the Russian channels that Putin will unleash a big offensive in the summer.
“There is in all likelihood a new offensive coming: Mordvichev’s appointment to commander of the whole front very likely means that the High Command is planning a large offensive this summer. While Mordvichev’s appointment by itself does not necessarily lend credence to such an idea (his predecessor was 70, and by Russian law that is the age of retirement in the military), there is the undeniable fact that the amount of Russian personnel in the SМO zone has swollen to 680.000 troops if not even more. [Some] of these soldiers are currently being committed outside of rotations. There is a very good chance that they are being held in reserve for some good reason.”
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