The President of the Russian National Wealth Fund, Dmitriev, is visiting Washington. This marks the highest-level visit from the Kremlin to the USA since the beginning of the Ukraine war. Kirill Dmitriev, the President of the Russian National Wealth Fund, announced today through a Telegram channel statement that he is in the US capital, Washington, for discussions to enhance relations between the two countries. This visit by a Kremlin official to the USA is unprecedented since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. In his message, Dmitriev mentioned holding talks with representatives from the administration of US President Donald Trump in Washington, without providing further details on the subject matter. Prior to Dmitriev’s announcement, reports in the US media indicated that the President of the Russian Wealth Fund arrived in Washington yesterday and would have a meeting at the White House with Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The Washington Post reported that Dmitriev had begun discussions with Trump’s special envoy Witkoff in Washington. An individual who requested anonymity confirmed that discussions were ongoing. Dmitriev’s visit to the USA comes at a time when the Trump administration is working to end the Russia-Ukraine war and to improve relations with Russia following the Biden administration. In his Telegram message, Dmitriev remarked on the importance of the dialogue between Russia and the United States, stating that under the Biden administration, this dialogue had been completely eradicated. Restoring dialogue is not an easy process; it happens gradually. However, each meeting, each sincere conversation, allows us to progress. Russia is seeking the removal of the sanctions imposed by the USA as part of a peace agreement with Ukraine. Reports in the US media suggest that Dmitriev, who is also on the USA’s sanctions list, was able to visit the USA after restrictions against him were temporarily eased. Following the commencement of Donald Trump’s second term as US President in January 2025, the first high-level official meeting between Russia and the USA after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war took place between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his American counterpart Marco Rubio. Lavrov, Rubio, and their delegations met in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, on February 18th. Rubio expressed that “extraordinary opportunities will arise for US-Russia relations if the conflict in Ukraine ends.” President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin also engaged in a phone conversation during this period. Trump announced on February 12th that he had spoken with Putin over the phone. The two leaders also held a phone call on March 18th, which reportedly lasted 2.5 hours and focused on details of the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire process. Despite Ukraine and Russia agreeing, under US auspices, to cease attacks on energy infrastructures, they continue to accuse each other of violating this agreement.