A senior Kremlin adviser is expected in Washington this week in a high-profile signal of renewed U.S.-Russia engagement under the Trump administration.
Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a longtime confidant of Vladimir Putin, will reportedly hold talks with President Trump’s top envoy, Steve Witkoff, as the two sides explore potential pathways toward ending the war in Ukraine.
The visit would mark the first trip to Washington by a top Russian official since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and comes amid heightened diplomatic activity following Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January.
According to Digi24.ro, Dmitriev has already played a key behind-the-scenes role in recent talks, including negotiations in Riyadh and efforts to secure the release of an American professor imprisoned in Russia. For this week’s trip, the U.S. has temporarily lifted sanctions on Dmitriev to allow him entry into the country.
A Reset With Strings Attached
Though Trump has expressed frustration with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the administration has shifted away from the policies of Trump’s predecessor. Instead of providing more military support, Trump has pushed for a negotiated ceasefire — at times echoing Moscow’s positions.
Witkoff, who has already met with Putin twice in Moscow, is leading the U.S. effort. However, according to CNN, Trump is growing impatient with the lack of progress and has privately questioned whether Putin can be trusted.
Tensions have been exacerbated by disagreements over the terms of a minerals deal between Washington and Kyiv, which Trump has warned Zelensky not to abandon.
Roadblocks and Conditions
Russia, meanwhile, has dismissed recent U.S. proposals as insufficient. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Tuesday that the plans “do not address the root causes of the conflict” from Moscow’s perspective. The Kremlin has also demanded the lifting of sanctions as a precondition for halting military activity in the Black Sea region.
Despite the political optics, both sides appear far from agreement. Still, Dmitriev’s visit suggests the Trump administration remains committed to pursuing a deal — and may be willing to make bold diplomatic gestures to get there.
