Russia’s top economic envoy to visit Washington as Trump-Putin diplomacy accelerates

A senior Russian official is expected to arrive in Washington this week for direct talks with the Trump administration, a source familiar with the plan confirmed.

Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and recently appointed special envoy for international economic and investment cooperation, will meet with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. The meeting, first reported by CNN, will focus on efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and explore ways to end the war in Ukraine.

The White House and State Department have not commented on the planned visit. Russia’s Embassy in Washington and the Russian Direct Investment Fund also did not respond to inquiries.

This marks the first official visit by a senior Russian figure to Washington since the war began in 2022. It follows recent phone conversations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with both sides signalling interest in restoring diplomatic and economic cooperation.

The outreach comes amid broader efforts to reset U.S.-Russia relations under Trump’s administration. A new Russian ambassador has been appointed, and initial talks have begun on rare earth metals—an area of strategic importance to both countries.

No details have been released on whether Dmitriev's visit will result in formal agreements, but it underscores a shift in tone between the two governments as Washington repositions itself on the global stage.

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