Close Putin Ally Attempted to Convince Russian Leader to Halt War in Ukraine and Pursue Negotiations
According to reports by The New York Times, Dmitry Kozak, one of Vladimir Putin’s most trusted and close associates, recently expressed his opinion regarding the need to stop the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine and to transition towards diplomatic negotiations.
Sources close to the Kremlin assert that Kozak proposed to the Russian president an idea to cease hostilities and initiate diplomatic talks, as well as to undertake internal reforms within Russia.
Specifically, he suggested transferring control over the security agencies to the government, enhancing efforts for an independent judiciary, and reforming the political system.However, as reported by the publication, this proposal did not yield the desired effect.
Putin, according to sources, made it clear that he considers the invasion of Ukraine a mistake and has no plans to abandon this policy.
At the same time, much of the authority on this matter has shifted to Sergey Kiriyenko, deputy head of the presidential administration.
Close Kremlin insiders note that Kozak is the only high-ranking official within Putin’s circle openly voicing disagreement with the war, although he has not publicly criticized it.It is also noted that Kozak’s opinions have little influence on the president’s decisions, who continues to support a tough line regarding Ukraine.
Nevertheless, within Moscow’s elite circles, disappointment is growing that Putin refuses to seek compromises, and security officials are gaining influence, potentially leading to an even more uncontrollable political situation.Despite his reduced influence, Kozak still maintains access to Putin and acts as an informal intermediary in unofficial contacts with the West.
Western sources indicate they have met with him several times since 2022, and Kozak has explicitly expressed disagreement with Russia’s aggressive policies, often urging reconsideration of the war’s course.
It is known that in 2022, Reuters revealed that Kozak had tried to persuade Putin that a pre-war agreement with Ukraine had been achieved regarding non-entry into NATO, but the president dismissed these claims and launched the full-scale invasion.