Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, is in the United States and is slated to meet with White House envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami on Saturday, a U.S. official and a source familiar with the plans confirmed.
The visit by Dmitriev, a key figure in Moscow’s diplomatic efforts, comes at a time of heightened strain between the U.S. and Russia, primarily over President Trump’s attempts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
Sanctions and Summit Hopes
The Russians’ primary goal for the trip is to lay the groundwork for a second U.S.-Russia leaders summit. This follows President Trump’s recent decision to cancel a previously planned meeting with Putin in Budapest. Trump stated he “cancelled” the summit because he felt it wouldn’t be productive at that time, but added, “We will do it sometime in the future.”
The urgency of the meeting is underscored by the recent actions taken by the U.S. government. Just this past Wednesday, the U.S. imposed new sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies. This move, the first set of sanctions against Russia over the war with Ukraine since Trump took office, is designed to increase pressure on President Putin to agree to a ceasefire.
The communication, first reported by CNN, highlights continuous, albeit tense, diplomatic back channels between Washington and Moscow, even as the two nations clash over the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.
The outcome of the Saturday meeting in Miami could indicate the immediate future of U.S.-Russia relations and prospects for a resolution in Ukraine.
READ: Summit Off, Sanctions On: U.S. Hammers Russia’s Top Oil Firms After Putin Talks Fail
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