Kirill Dmitriev, a senior advisor to the Kremlin and head of a major state-backed investment fund, is expected to visit Washington this week for talks with U.S. officials about Ukraine and bilateral relations, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
The news of Dmitriev’s anticipated visit comes as Washington and Moscow are trying to mend relations that were strained prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Dmitriev, who leads the Russian Direct Investment Fund, has taken on a more prominent role in negotiations with U.S. officials in recent months. He recently met with White House envoy Steve Witkoff when Witkoff traveled to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Reuters’ and CNN’s reports that Dmitriev’s visit could take place this week.
“Yes, I confirm. This visit may happen. We continue to communicate with the Americans. I will not provide further details,” said Peskov.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), responding to another report about the visit, Dmitriev wrote “maybe.”
CNN and Reuters, citing anonymous officials, said Dmitriev will meet with Witkoff. Reuters reported that the meeting is expected to take place on Wednesday.
CNN reported that Dmitriev would need a special visa as he is under U.S. sanctions.
Both countries have promoted steps to improve relations, which began deteriorating in 2012 during Barack Obama’s presidency and then sharply worsened after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Donald Trump made ending the ongoing war in Ukraine one of his key foreign policy priorities.
Unlike his predecessor, Joe Biden, who refused to speak with Moscow, the Trump administration followed a different approach, holding at least two phone calls with Putin and sending senior advisors, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to Saudi Arabia last month to initiate talks.
However, last week Trump sharply criticized Putin and threatened Russia with new tariffs on oil products if Moscow blocks his ceasefire initiatives.
During a phone interview with NBC News on March 30, Trump said he was “very angry” and “upset” when Putin called for the creation of a transitional government in Ukraine that could overthrow the current president, Volodymyr Zelensky, reports REL.
Dmitriev took part in talks in Saudi Arabia, which focused not only on ending the war but also on restoring U.S.-Russia relations.
Regarded as a close ally of Putin, he is seen as a key figure in negotiations to revive investments between the two countries.
