Possible new contacts between US and Russian officials next week, says Kremlin envoy

New talks between American and Russian officials could take place “as early as next week,” according to Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin’s special economic envoy and head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, who has just returned from a rare visit to Washington.

Speaking on state television, Dmitriev said potential contacts may occur “next week,” though he did not specify the format, participants, or topics likely to be discussed, Russian state news agencies reported.

Dmitriev is not officially part of the bilateral negotiations over Ukraine initiated earlier this year by the Biden administration in parallel with Kyiv and Moscow. However, his trip marks the first visit by a senior Russian official to Washington since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The envoy described a “positive dynamic” in U.S.–Russia relations despite ongoing tensions and what he called “numerous disagreements.” He noted, however, that the U.S. government still includes many ‘enemies of Russia’, according to Russia’s state-run Tass agency.

Still, Dmitriev expressed cautious optimism:“There is a fragile hope now that dialogue has resumed,” he said.

The renewed contacts come amid signs of a potential thaw between Moscow and Washington, particularly with the return of Donald Trump to the American political spotlight. Trump recently announced sweeping tariffs on multiple countries—excluding Russia, which remains under a broad array of U.S. sanctions and is no longer viewed as a significant trade partner by Washington.

Despite being personally sanctioned by the United States since 2022, Dmitriev was granted a temporary waiver to obtain a U.S. visa for this visit.

The scope and impact of any forthcoming talks remain unclear, but Dmitriev’s comments signal a possible recalibration in U.S.–Russia engagement at a time of ongoing geopolitical tensions and shifting alliances.