Introduction
MOSCOW, April 2 (Reuters) - Kirill Dmitriev, the chief of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and investment envoy for President Vladimir Putin, is reportedly heading to Washington for discussions with the Trump administration.
Context
Dmitriev, 49, has led the Russian Direct Investment Fund since 2011 and was appointed as Putin’s investment envoy in February. He regularly meets with Putin and is recognized as one of the most knowledgeable members of Russia's elite regarding the U.S., maintaining close ties with key figures in the Trump administration.
Developments
He played a significant role in initial communications with the U.S. when Trump was elected president in 2016 and helped establish relations with Saudi Arabia, contributing to the oil price agreement under the expanded OPEC+ forum. Dmitriev has met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman multiple times, including during his visits to Moscow.
- His wife, Natalya, serves as a deputy to Katerina Tikhonova, one of Putin's daughters, at a foundation affiliated with Moscow State University, where both studied.
- They were sanctioned by the United States in 2022.
Born in Kyiv, Soviet Ukraine, Dmitriev graduated from a prestigious school known for its focus on physics and mathematics. He studied at Stanford University and earned an MBA with distinction from Harvard. Fluent in English, he worked at Goldman Sachs in New York and for McKinsey & Company before serving as CEO at Delta Private Equity Partners in Moscow.
Since 2011, the Russian Direct Investment Fund under Dmitriev organized the production of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 and facilitated its promotion in foreign markets.
While the specifics of his discussions in Washington remain unclear, he may convey a message from Putin to Trump. Dmitriev has also identified several areas for potential cooperation between Russia and the United States, including:
- Economic collaboration
- Financial initiatives
- Space exploration
Although Dmitriev is characterized as "a known Putin ally," he was not sanctioned by the European Union. CNN reported that the Trump administration temporarily lifted sanctions during his visit.
Dmitriev has commented on the necessity of dialogue with nuclear powers and the geopolitics of the current era, noting the renewed interest of global companies in returning to Russia.
Conclusion
The upcoming discussions in Washington emphasize the potential for enhanced dialogue and cooperation between Russia and the United States, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.