(MENAFN) Moscow and Washington are maintaining diplomatic engagement based on the understandings achieved during the Alaska summit, despite earlier claims that US special envoy Steve Witkoff had seen his influence wane within President Donald Trump’s administration.

This clarification came from Russian presidential aide Kirill Dmitriev, who emphasized the ongoing cooperation.

The Alaska summit, held in August, represented the first direct meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2019.

Their discussions focused on resolving the Ukraine conflict and rebuilding bilateral relations between the US and Russia. Although the talks didn’t produce a major breakthrough, both leaders described them as “productive.”

After the summit, Witkoff—a businessman from New York and Trump’s special envoy for peace efforts, particularly regarding Ukraine and the Middle East—faced criticism from Western media.

Critics pointed to his limited diplomatic background and the absence of a concrete agreement as signs of ineffectiveness.

However, in a statement shared on his Telegram channel, Dmitriev, who was involved in the Alaska negotiations, dismissed the notion that Witkoff’s influence had diminished in Washington.

He asserted: “As the chief architect and negotiator behind Trump’s Gaza plan, which Russia also supported, Witkoff retains and has significantly strengthened his key role,” referencing Witkoff’s role in facilitating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which included a major hostage swap.

Dmitriev characterized Witkoff’s method as realistic and emphasized that the communication between Moscow and Trump’s circle “continues on the basis of agreements reached at the Alaska summit.”

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