Kremlin says Putin envoy continuing contacts in US on potential economic cooperation

Russian presidential envoy Kiril Dmitriev is continuing his contacts in the US on potential economic cooperation between Moscow and Washington, the Kremlin said Friday.

In a press briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Dmitriev’s contacts with US negotiators are focused on potential economic cooperation between the two countries, which he said are currently absent.

“There is, nonetheless, an understanding that such collaboration could be mutually beneficial. Such discussions regarding future possibilities are indeed taking place,” Peskov said.

Citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter, CNN reported earlier that Dmitriev met with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in New York on Thursday, seeking to continue dialogue on cooperation between Moscow and Washington, as well as peacemaking efforts for the ongoing Ukraine war.

Russian state news agency RIA also wrote earlier Friday that Dmitriev is in New York, during UN General Assembly week, reporting that he was spotted outside a Manhattan hotel, where he arrived in a motorcade of special forces and police vehicles.

On recent contacts between the US and China, Peskov said that Russia considers these interactions a “critically important engagement” and is monitoring them.

“As for the potential imposition of ‘hellish sanctions,’ we do not yet know what form they might take, how or when they might be applied, or indeed if they will happen at all. However, our position on this legislation is well known,” Peskov added, referring to new US sanctions signed last week into law by Trump.

The legislation authorizes and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions targeting Russia and extends existing sanctions on Iran.

It provides for primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and individuals or entities supporting the Ukraine war, including Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, banks, and other financial institutions.

Peskov also criticized an EU decision on Thursday to sanction Xenia Fedorova, the former head of the French branch of Russian outlet RT, calling the move “blatant pressure on the media” and a “persecution of media representatives.”