Putin's advisor set for pivotal US visit amid Ukraine tensions

• Kirill Dmitriev, Vladimir Putin's business advisor, is scheduled to travel to the U.S. this week. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the possibility of this visit.
• Dmitriev's meeting with the American envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is set to focus on strengthening relations between Russia and the U.S.
• Dmitriev's visit to Washington will be the first visit by a high-ranking Russian official since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to two sources cited by Reuters, Dmitriev, who heads the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), is scheduled to meet with the American envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

He has been participating in ceasefire talks in the Russia-Ukraine war for months. One of the sources stated that the meeting may take place as early as Wednesday.

Reuters emphasizes that it would be the first visit by a high-ranking Russian official to Washington since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

The planned talks were also previously reported by CNN. According to their information, Dmitriev and Witkoff are expected to discuss a potential rapprochement in Russian-American relations.

Referring to this information on platform X, Dmitriev wrote: "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?"

CNN also reported that due to Dmitriev's visit, the American administration under President Donald Trump had temporarily suspended sanctions imposed on the Russian advisor in 2022.

So far, neither the White House, the U.S. State Department, nor the Russian Embassy in Washington have officially confirmed the plans for this visit.