Russian Envoy Dmitriev Meets Witkoff in Washington

Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a senior negotiator for Russia, visited Washington, marking the first trip by a high-ranking Russian official to the U.S. since the invasion of Ukraine. His meeting with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff comes amid ongoing tensions and stalled ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, heightened by President Trump's recent frustrations with Putin's comments about Ukrainian leadership. The U.S. Treasury Department temporarily lifted sanctions against Dmitriev to facilitate his travel, indicating a potential thaw in U.S.-Russia relations. Witkoff, who has been actively engaged in negotiations, previously met with Dmitriev in Saudi Arabia and has expressed hopes for American companies to return to Russia if peace is achieved. Dmitriev has commented on the importance of dialogue between the U.S. and Russia for global security, despite resistance to such discussions. This visit raises concerns in Europe and Kyiv about the possibility of the Trump administration easing sanctions or striking a deal favorable to Russia.