Putins Economic Envoy Engages in U.S. Talks Amid Sanctions and Tensions

President Vladimir Putin’s envoy for economic cooperation has arrived in the United States to engage in discussions, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump placed sanctions on two major Russian oil companies, according to CNN sources familiar with the situation.

Kirill Dmitriev’s visit marks his second trip to the U.S. since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and is reportedly aimed at «continuing talks regarding the U.S.-Russia relationship.»

As reported by Axios, Dmitriev is set to meet with White House representative Steve Witkoff in Miami on Saturday, as confirmed by two individuals informed about the agenda.

In April, Dmitriev had a meeting with Witkoff in Washington when the U.S. government temporarily lifted sanctions against him to facilitate the issuance of a visa by the State Department.

This latest visit occurs amidst rising tensions following Trump’s sanctions on Russian oil firms Rosneft and Lukoil, along with his decision to cancel a planned summit with Putin after not making headway on a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has characterized the sanctions as a form of political coercion.

On Friday afternoon, Dmitriev shared a photo of an in-flight map indicating his aircraft’s position, which was believed to be over Massachusetts, nearing New York.

Dmitriev’s trip also aligns with a renewed interest in Congress regarding dialogue with Russia.

Earlier in October, Florida Congresswoman and Trump associate Anna Paulina Luna announced she would meet with Dmitriev «later this month,» although she did not disclose the specifics of their discussions.

Last week, Dmitriev suggested a proposed «Putin-Trump Tunnel» between Alaska and Russia as a «symbol of unity,» indicating that Elon Musk’s Boring Company could construct the $8 billion underwater project within eight years.

As of now, Dmitriev, who leads the Russian Direct Investment Fund, has not made any statements on his visit to the U.S. through his social media platforms.