Putin's envoy says three words to sum up talks with Trump administration in Washington

Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and special representative of the Russian president for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, met key members of the Trump administration in Washington. Dmitriev summed up the results of the negotiations by saying:

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Russia and USA

"Three steps forward."

According to Dmitriev, one of the main topics was the restoration of relations and dialogue between Russia and the United States. He emphasized that the current US president listens to Russia's position and understands its concerns. While disagreements remain, the parties to the talks make progress too.

Dmitriev also noted that the Trump administration achieved significant progress in resolving the Ukraine crisis and helped prevent the outbreak of a third world war.

"I'd say that today and yesterday we made three steps forward on a large number of issues. But certainly, a lot of problems have accumulated, and, after nearly three years without communication between Russia and the US, the dialogue and resolution process will take some time,” Kirill Dmitriev said. 

Talks Covered Economic Cooperation and Future Engagements

Dmitriev said the discussions focused on investment and economic cooperation. He highlighted a strong desire among American companies to return to the Russian market, noting that over 150 US companies are currently operating in Russia, with about 70 percent of them having been present for more than 25 years. However, he stressed that domestic Russian business remains the top priority.

The sides also discussed potential cooperation in the Arctic and in the rare-earth metals sector. Dmitriev pointed out that Trump's recent tariffs affected many countries, but Russia was not included on the list. The two sides are reportedly also discussing the restoration of direct air travel between Russia and the U. S.

Dmitriev invited his American counterparts to visit Moscow and expressed hope that Russian representatives would also be invited to the US in the near future. Commenting on prospects for future meetings, he noted that certain timelines had been outlined and are currently under discussion.

US Media Reveal Purpose Behind Dmitriev's Visit

According to The Washington Post, Dmitriev visited Washington to soften the Trump administration's stance and highlight the potential for both peaceful resolution and major financial agreements.

"People like Dmitriev and US Special Envoy Steven Witkoff can reach an agreement, because this is about money and power, and in that sense, their intentions align,” a former Russian official told the newspaper on condition of anonymity.

The Post also noted that Dmitriev was the highest-ranking Russian official to visit the US since 2022. Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the talks, reported that the US was now waiting for Dmitriev to brief the Russian president on the results of his trip, after which both sides may move on to next steps.