The Kremlin is assembling a high-level negotiating team to engage in direct talks with the United States in an effort to end the war in Ukraine. Sources familiar with the issue have revealed that the team will consist of top-level political, intelligence, and economic figures from Russia, including a key official who played a crucial role in a recent US prisoner release deal.
Kirill Dmitriev, a close adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been appointed to focus on restoring economic ties between the US and Russia as part of the negotiations for a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement. Dmitriev recently collaborated with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia to secure the release of an American teacher from Russia.
Witkoff acknowledged Dmitriev's significant role in the prisoner release deal, describing him as an important interlocutor who bridged the gap between the two sides. Dmitriev, who heads Russia's sanctioned sovereign wealth fund, has been a vocal supporter of former US President Donald Trump within Russia's political circles. He has expressed optimism about the potential for improved relations between Russia and the United States following Trump's election victory.
The inclusion of Dmitriev in the Kremlin's negotiating team suggests that Russia's strategy will likely focus on reducing sanctions and repairing economic relations with the West. The move indicates a willingness on the part of Russia to engage in diplomatic efforts to address the conflict in Ukraine and improve relations with the United States.
