Russia Accuses West of Blocking Diplomatic Talks With the US
Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s senior economic envoy, blasted what he called “titanic attempts” to stop talks between Moscow and Washington. He said this while visiting the United States over the weekend, when he met with officials from the Trump administration as tensions rose.
The visit comes after the US put additional sanctions on Russian energy businesses and President Donald Trump got more and more angry that Russia won’t agree to a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.
Source: Reuters
Envoy’s Visit Comes After Trump Cancels Putin Meeting
Trump called off a scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest earlier this week, saying it may be a “waste of time.” Even if things didn’t go as planned, Dmitriev’s journey shows that there are still some ways for the two powers to talk to each other.
The Kremlin official, who is in charge of Russia’s economic negotiations, stated that Moscow is still “committed to constructive dialogue and to clearly communicating Russia’s position.”
Dmitriev Criticizes Disinformation and Diplomatic Interference
Dmitriev said in a video message on Telegram that certain people were circulating false stories and trying to sabotage conversations on purpose. “We’re seeing huge efforts to stop any conversation between Russia and the US,” he stated.
Dmitriev, a Stanford graduate and former Goldman Sachs banker, said that “disinformation has replaced diplomacy” in the present context, but he stressed that Russia will keep trying to engage directly.
Recommended Article: US Warship Arrival in Caribbean Sparks Maduro War Accusations
Meetings With US Officials and Lawmakers
Russian sources quoted by AFP said that Dmitriev met with officials from the Trump administration on Friday and Saturday, and talks are likely to continue through Sunday.
The envoy also said that he will meet with Florida Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who is apparently setting up a forum for members of the US Congress and the Russian Duma to talk to each other. Dmitriev claimed that the goal of the project is to “restore channels of mutual understanding” and that it might happen “in the near future.”
Sanctions and Economic Pressures Add Strain
Washington has added further sanctions on Russian energy companies, which is meant to put more economic pressure on Moscow. Dmitriev’s visit comes only days after this. The Kremlin called the actions “unlawful” and said they would not influence Russia’s geopolitical choices.
Analysts say that Dmitriev’s trip shows that Moscow is trying to keep business ties strong even as political relations are getting worse. But US leaders have not been too eager to change their minds throughout the current fight.
The Ukraine Conflict Continues to Define Relations
The diplomatic burden is still tied to the war in Ukraine, which is now entering its fourth year. Russia has turned down calls from other countries for a ceasefire many times, saying that military operations will continue until its goals are met.
According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, was hit again overnight, killing three people and hurting scores more. The incident shows how the war is still hurting people and making Moscow more isolated from the rest of the world.
Prospects for Dialogue Remain Uncertain
Dmitriev’s meetings are one of the only times the two countries have had active diplomatic talks, but analysts still don’t think anything big will happen. The fact that Trump and Putin can’t talk to each other directly shows that high-level diplomacy is still on hold.
Dmitriev was nonetheless cautiously optimistic, stating that talking, even if it’s not too much, is better than being quiet. He said, “Our job is to keep lines of communication open,” portraying his visit as a minor but important step toward lowering tensions.
