Kremlin Investment Chief Kirill Dmitriev to Meet Trump Envoy in Washington, Reuters Reports

Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s National Wealth Fund, is set to visit Washington this week for a meeting with US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, CNN and Reuters reported on April 1, citing sources.

Dmitriev’s visit marks the first trip by a Russian official to Washington since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and signals a potential thaw in relations following Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

According to sources, the talks will focus on strengthening ties between the two countries amid broader efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting is reportedly scheduled for April 2.

Dmitriev, a close adviser to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, was part of a delegation that traveled to Riyadh in February to discuss a possible settlement to the war.

He also worked with Witkoff on securing the release of American teacher Marc Fogel, a move the Trump administration welcomed as a goodwill gesture.

To facilitate Dmitriev’s visit, the US temporarily lifted sanctions against him, allowing the State Department to issue a visa.

Since February 2022, Dmitriev has been under US, EU, UK, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand sanctions due to his financial ties to the Kremlin.

When asked about his trip, Dmitriev gave a cautious response, saying “maybe”, while acknowledging resistance to US-Russia dialogue.

“But what if improved relations are exactly what the world needs for lasting global security and peace?” he added.

Earlier, Dmitriev reported that the United States and Russia have begun talks on potential joint mining of rare earth minerals projects.

“Rare earth metals are an important area for cooperation, and we have certainly started discussions about various rare earth metals and projects in Russia,” Dmitriev said, adding that several companies have expressed interest.