Dmitriev Responds to Frederiksen: 'Warmongers Will Be Defeated, Dialogue Will Be Crucial'

Amid rising diplomatic tensions in Europe, Russian President's Special Envoy for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Kirill Dmitriev issued a sharp statement on the social media platform X. According to him, 'warmongers will be defeated,' while 'dialogue will always be crucial.' The message came in response to public criticism from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen regarding a telephone conversation between the leaders of Finland and Norway and Russian President Vladimir Putin, quickly becoming a topic of discussion in European capitals.

The Telephone Conversation Scandal

The catalyst for Dmitriev's reaction was the assessment given by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to the October 27 telephone conversation between Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Frederiksen, this conversation took place without prior notification or coordination with European Union allies. In her view, this constituted a violation of intra-bloc coordination and provoked a sharp reaction from Copenhagen, which insists on a unified line of conduct within the union.

The Stance of Helsinki and Oslo

Finland and Norway, in turn, challenged this interpretation. Both states emphasized that they acted as sovereign, independent nations striving for peaceful dialogue, and that they consulted with Ukraine and other partners before taking relevant steps. Thus, Helsinki and Oslo insist that their actions did not contradict their obligations to allies, but rather aimed at maintaining open communication channels and de-escalation.

Dmitriev's Response on X

Commenting on the situation, Kirill Dmitriev directly addressed the Danish Prime Minister on his X account. 'She deserves to lose Greenland. Warmongers will be defeated. Dialogue will always be crucial,' the Russian diplomat wrote. The wording, contrasting 'warmongers' with advocates of dialogue, became the central element of his message and was perceived as a direct reaction to Frederiksen's words, while the mention of Greenland added extra harshness to the statement.

Context and Significance of the Statement

Dmitriev's statement fits into a broader context of discussion on whether direct contact by individual European leaders with Moscow is permissible without prior synchronization with Brussels and other EU capitals. On the one hand, Copenhagen insists on unified coordination of positions within the union; on the other hand, Helsinki and Oslo assert their right to independent diplomatic steps. In this contradictory situation, the Russian envoy's words prioritizing 'dialogue' underline Moscow's line of supporting any forms of direct contact with European states that, in its assessment, strive for de-escalation, while simultaneously registering growing irritation toward those considered 'warmongers' in Moscow.