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Kremlin Confirms One-Off UK Backchannel Outreach on Ukraine That Went Nowhere

Moscow says Jonathan Powell’s call to Yury Ushakov stalled after London pressed European positions without engaging Russia.

Overview

  • Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell contacted presidential aide Yury Ushakov earlier this year.
  • Peskov said a dialogue took place but did not continue, characterizing the exchange as a single contact.
  • He attributed the failure to London prioritizing the presentation of European views and showing no willingness to hear Russia’s stance.
  • The Financial Times first reported the outreach as an attempt to open an informal channel due to European concerns that U.S. policy under President Donald Trump could sideline their interests on Ukraine.
  • No date for the conversation was provided, and there is no sign that a sustained line of communication was established.