Russian Envoy Dmitriev Heads to US for Ukraine Talks

Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev is traveling to the United States for talks with Trump administration representatives, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as Washington and Moscow continue diplomatic efforts focused on the war in Ukraine.

Dmitriev is expected to hold meetings in New York during the United Nations General Assembly, according to two sources familiar with preparations who spoke to Reuters. The visit was agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and follows talks between Putin and U.S. representatives at the Kremlin earlier in September.

One source said the latest discussions are intended to maintain Russia-U.S. dialogue and continue efforts toward a negotiated settlement. Economic cooperation, energy issues and potential pathways toward ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict are expected to feature prominently on the agenda.

The New York meetings follow Secretary of State Marco Rubio's talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Rubio said Russia and Ukraine had shown interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain and energy. He also expressed hope that Putin would accept an invitation to attend the G20 summit in the United States.

Dmitriev previously joined Putin, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, Witkoff and Kushner for talks in Moscow on September 5. Before the Kremlin meeting, Dmitriev also held a roughly three-hour lunch discussion with the two U.S. representatives. The Kremlin confirmed that Dmitriev and Ushakov participated in the meeting with Putin.

A U.S.-educated investment banker who previously worked at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey, Dmitriev has emerged as a key Russian representative in contacts with the Trump administration.

His previous discussions with Witkoff and Kushner have also covered economic and energy matters. Reuters reported that Dmitriev helped negotiate a U.S. sanctions waiver involving seaborne Russian oil and participated in efforts that resulted in prisoner exchanges between Russia and the United States.

The latest meetings in New York will provide another channel for Moscow and Washington to discuss Ukraine, energy and bilateral economic relations as diplomatic efforts continue.