Kremlin envoy's visit to Washington: A new chapter in U.S.-Russia relations?
Kremlin advisor on business for Russia's leader Vladimir Putin, Kirill Dmitriev, will travel to the United States this week. As reported by Reuters on Wednesday, this marks the first visit by a high-ranking Russian official to Washington since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), is set to meet with U.S. envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who has also been involved in talks for a truce in the Russia-Ukraine war for months, according to two sources familiar with the matter. One source stated that the meeting is expected to take place as early as Wednesday.
The planned meeting was initially reported by CNN, stating that Dmitriev and Witkoff will discuss strengthening relations between the two countries.
Maybe. The resistance to US-Russia dialogue is real-driven by entrenched interests and old narratives. But what if improved relations are exactly what the world needs for lasting global security and peace - Dmitriev commented on CNN reports on his X channel.
CNN reported that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump had intended to lift sanctions imposed on Dmitriev for the duration of his visit to Washington.
The White House, the U.S. Department of State, and the Russian embassy in Washington have not yet confirmed Putin's advisor's visit to the United States.
- Trump is frustrated with the leaders on both sides of this war. He wants this war to end, - said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday. However, she noted that Trump is strongly engaged in talks with Russia and Ukraine daily.
The spokeswoman referred to the latest statements by Trump, who said he was "very angry" about Vladimir Putin's proposal to set up a temporary government in Ukraine under UN supervision, although he later assured that he still believes the Russian leader wants peace and will keep his word.
Russia questions the existence of an independent Ukraine
Nevertheless, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that while he takes American peace proposals seriously, Russia cannot accept them.
- As far as we can see, there is no place in them today for our main demand, namely to solve the problems related to the root causes of this conflict - he stated. - It is completely absent, and that must be overcome.
So far, the Kremlin, when speaking of "root causes," effectively questioned the existence of an independent Ukrainian state.
Trump also threatened Volodymyr Zelensky with "big problems" if he backs out of the agreement on Ukrainian resources. The American president maintains that it is Ukraine that wishes to renegotiate the previously agreed text of the agreement, although media reports suggest that it was the U.S. that imposed new conditions, significantly increasing U.S. control over Ukraine's resources and economy.
