Russian Envoy Advocates for Sanctions Relaxation in Talks with US Officials
Kirill Dmitrijew, a close confidant of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, traveled to Washington for the first time since the start of the Russian war against Ukraine to advocate for a relaxation of sanctions in talks with high-ranking US officials.
Dmitrijew published a report on Telegram in which Moscow asked US President Donald Trump to lift some of the sanctions as part of negotiations for a ceasefire. Trump confirmed the presence of a Russian envoy in Washington, but did not mention a name.
Talks on Ukraine are currently at a standstill as Trump is reportedly frustrated with the lack of progress. Dmitrijew was sent to Washington by Putin after Putin agreed to a ceasefire in a phone call in March, but set conditions, including the lifting of some sanctions.
Dmitrijew, who himself was heavily sanctioned due to the war, is said to advise as a special envoy of the Russian president for economic cooperation with other countries, including Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff. According to Dmitrijew, the relationship between Russia and the US can only be restored gradually.
Before the war, US-Russian trade in 2021 amounted to $35 billion, but dropped to $3.5 billion last year due to sanctions.
- Russia was exempt from the import duties announced this week.
- The White House spokeswoman explained that due to existing sanctions, no further duties are necessary as they exclude any meaningful trade.
Efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine are therefore closely linked to discussions on sanctions and economic cooperation between the countries involved.
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