“We see a positive dynamic in our relations (…) The process of dialogue and resolution will take time. However, at the same time, it is progressing in a positive and constructive manner,” Dmitriev commented to the Russian press in Washington.
Admitting “disagreements on various points,” the Russian underscored that there is “a dialogue” to help “overcome these disagreements.”
“We also discussed possible cooperation in the Arctic, rare metals, and other sectors,” he added.
The meeting takes place a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on many countries, but not on Russia, which has already been subject to U.S. sanctions due to the war with Ukraine, which began in February 2022.
The Russian envoy welcomed the announced tariffs, stating that they “set a precedent for autonomous growth and the creation of sustainable jobs” in the United States.
When asked about the visit, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the special envoy was acting “within his mandate,” meaning to discuss economic cooperation.
Kirill Dmitriev, director of Russia’s Sovereign Fund, is not involved in the discussions regarding Ukraine.
Dmitriev has been under U.S. sanctions since 2022 and required a temporary suspension of these restrictions to obtain a visa to travel to the United States.
He was one of the Russian negotiators in the U.S.-Russia talks held on February 18 in Saudi Arabia, a few days after the first official phone call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump since the Republican’s return to the White House in January.
Born in Kiev during the USSR, Kirill Dmitriev is well-acquainted with the United States, having pursued a career there. He previously worked at Goldman Sachs in New York and at the consulting firm McKinsey. He is a graduate of Stanford University and the prestigious Harvard Business School.
