Kremlin special envoy Kirill Dmitriev confirmed he is in the United States for high‑level talks despite new U.S. sanctions on Russia’s top oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. Speaking in Washington, Dmitriev said his visit was “long‑planned and not canceled by the American side,” calling it proof that U.S.–Russia dialogue continues. He reiterated President Putin’s stance that “pressure does not work with Russia” and emphasized that “Russia’s national and security interests must always be respected.” Dmitriev accused Britain and European states of disrupting prior peace efforts between Moscow and Kyiv, referencing former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s 2022 intervention that blocked an early ceasefire. The envoy also warned that sanctions would “raise oil prices at American gas stations,” dismissing what he called the Biden administration’s “failed narratives.” Reports indicate he will meet with U.S. officials, including Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, in Miami, with discussions focused on maintaining dialogue and exploring diplomatic solutions to end the Ukraine war.
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