Kirill Dmitriev emphasized the critical global importance of dialogue between Moscow and Washington.
Kirill Dmitriev, an economic advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced his arrival in Washington for talks with U.S. officials.
Dmitriev’s visit marks the highest-level contact between Russian and U.S. officials since the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022, occurring amidst ongoing efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution.
Reports in U.S. media indicated that Dmitriev was expected to meet with Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s representative overseeing engagement with Russia.
Dmitriev confirmed in a Thursday Telegram post that he had been “holding meetings in Washington with representatives of the Trump administration” on Wednesday and Thursday at President Putin’s direction. He stated that he would provide more details after the discussions conclude.
“Dialogue between Russia and the US, which is of the utmost importance for the entire world, has been completely destroyed under the previous administration of US President Joe Biden,” he stated.
Dmitriev, who leads Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, asserted that “numerous forces” are attempting to undermine Moscow and Washington’s attempts to mend relations.
“The opponents of rapprochement are afraid that Russia and the US will find common ground, begin to better understand each other and build cooperation, both in international affairs and in the economy,” he explained.
Putin’s envoy admitted that “restoring dialogue is a difficult and gradual process,” while underscoring that “each meeting, each frank conversation allows us to move forward.”
He added that “A real understanding of the Russian position [by the US] opens up new opportunities for constructive interaction, including in the investment and economic areas.”
Dmitriev participated in Russia-U.S. discussions in Saudi Arabia last month, where both countries agreed to start normalizing relations. Since then, Moscow and Washington have been working toward a possible diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine conflict, agreeing to a 30-day cessation of infrastructure strikes and expressing a willingness to take steps to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Since then, Russia has accused Ukraine of continually breaking the truce, alleging that Ukrainian drones attack facilities covered by the agreement daily.
Moscow insists that any resolution must consider the current situation and address the conflict’s underlying causes, including NATO expansion. They assert this would require Ukraine’s neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.
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