- Dmitriev arrives in Washington to meet with US officials.
- The visit comes amid new US sanctions on Russian oil companies.
- EU countries working with Ukraine on new ceasefire proposal.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, said Friday that he believes his country, the United States and Ukraine are close to a diplomatic solution to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
Speaking to CNN after arriving in Washington for talks with US officials, Dmitriev said that a meeting between Donald Trump and Putin had not been cancelled, as the US president described it, and that the two leaders would likely meet at a later date.
The planned summit was put on hold on Tuesday as Russia's rejection of an immediate ceasefire overshadowed attempts at negotiations.
Trump said he canceled the planned meeting with Putin in Budapest because of a lack of progress in diplomatic efforts to end the war and a feeling that the time was not right.
However, Dmitriev said on Friday: “I think Russia, the United States and Ukraine are quite close to a diplomatic solution.”
Dmitriev, in his comments, did not offer details of what this would entail.
European nations are working with Ukraine on a new proposal for a ceasefire in the war along current battle lines, European diplomats told Reuters this week, mainly incorporating ideas already under discussion as they push to keep the United States in a central role.
“It's a big step for President Zelenskiy to recognize that these are battle lines,” Dmitriev said.
“You know, their previous position was that Russia should leave completely; so, actually, I think we are reasonably close to a diplomatic solution that can be resolved.”
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Trump had announced last week that he and Putin would meet soon in Hungary to try to end the war.
But Putin has not been willing to consider concessions. Russia has long demanded that Ukraine agree to give up more territory before any ceasefire.
Dmitriev's visit to the United States for a long-planned meeting comes against the backdrop of recently announced U.S. sanctions against two of Russia's largest oil companies, a move aimed at putting pressure on Putin to end the war.
Despite the move, Dmitriev said dialogue between Russia and the United States will continue.
“It is certainly only possible if Russia's interests are taken into account and treated with respect,” Dmitriev previously told Reuters.
Dmitriev declined to say who he would meet and predicted that U.S. oil sanctions would be counterproductive. “This will only cause gasoline to cost more at American gas stations,” Dmitriev said.
US media outlet Axios reported that Dmitriev would meet with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami on Saturday. Russia's state news agency TASS quoted Dmitriev as saying he would also meet other people he did not name.
