The CEO of the Russia’s sovereign wealth fund Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev, and close associate of President Vladimir Putin, met in the White House today with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. It is the second day of Dmitriev’s meetings in Washington. On the way to Washington, yesterday, Dmitriev had posted a simple message: “Whatever your politics—dialogue between the US and Russia matters. It’s about building a more secure, more prosperous world for everyone.”
Yesterday, Dmitriev posted on Telegram a more complete explanation of his diplomacy: “Dialogue between Russia and the U.S., which is of the utmost importance for the entire world, has been completely destroyed under the previous administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.” Further, “numerous forces in many countries are now vying to derail the efforts being made by Moscow and Washington to restore relations. The opponents of rapprochement are afraid that Russia and the U.S. will find common ground, begin to better understand each other and build cooperation, both in international affairs and in the economy.” While “restoring dialogue is a difficult and gradual process,” he stressed that “each meeting, each frank conversation allows us to move forward. A real understanding of the Russian position [by the U.S.] opens up new opportunities for constructive interaction, including in the investment and economic areas.”
Dmitriev and Witkoff had previously shared significant roles in the initial U.S.-Russia negotiations, after which Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow. Dmitriev is also a key figure in proposals for U.S.-Russian collaboration in space travel, scientific work, and the development of Russia’s vast reserves of rare earth minerals. Witkoff reportedly had invited Dmitriev to Washington, making him the first high-level Russian official on such an official visit in years.
