In the midst of ongoing tensions in Ukraine, Russia and the United States continue to engage in discussions on economic and energy matters. Kirill Dmitriev, President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, confirmed the ongoing dialogue during Russia’s largest economic conference in St. Petersburg. Dmitriev mentioned that he recently spoke with U.S. counterparts, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, emphasizing that communication remains constant between the two nations.
Continued Dialogue Despite Stalled Peace Process
The Kremlin had previously announced that the peace process between Russia and Ukraine was on hold, but expressed optimism for its resumption. Meanwhile, contacts between Moscow and Washington persist at various levels. Dmitriev highlighted that not all interactions between the two countries are tied to the Ukraine conflict, with discussions also focusing on energy, the economy, and global stability.
U.S. President Donald Trump and President Putin last communicated on April 29, discussing a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine. However, since then, military actions have intensified, with Russia launching drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine has targeted industrial sites within Russia.
Potential for Trilateral Talks
Dmitriev mentioned the possibility of trilateral discussions involving Ukraine when the diplomatic climate is favorable. He stated, “And then when the time is right, I think there will be an opportunity also for trilateral discussions, but this is more on a diplomatic track.”
In addition to these discussions, the U.S. recently extended a 30-day sanctions waiver for the purchase of Russian seaborne oil, aimed at assisting energy-vulnerable countries affected by the ongoing conflict in Iran. Dmitriev, who has been involved in talks with the Trump administration regarding previous extensions, noted the importance of these waivers in stabilizing energy markets during the Middle East crisis. He refrained from speculating on whether the waiver would be extended again this month.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
