Russia prepared to cooperate with the US – Moscow’s economic envoy
Moscow is open to economic partnership with Washington, Russia’s newly appointed international investment and economic cooperation envoy Kirill Dmitriev announced on Monday.
Dmitriev, who is also the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), participated in the high-level Russia-US talks in Saudi Arabia last week. On Sunday, the Kremlin announced that the official had been appointed Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries.
Moscow “is open for US-Russia economic cooperation and believes such cooperation is key for a more resilient global economy,” Dmitriev posted on X on Monday.
The envoy was responding to a statement US President Donald Trump made on his Truth Social platform, touting upcoming deals between Moscow and Washington, as well as peace talks in the Ukraine conflict.
”I am in serious discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia concerning the ending of the War, and also major Economic Development transactions which will take place between the United States and Russia,” Trump wrote. “Talks are proceeding very well!” he added.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who was part of Washington’s delegation during talks in Riyadh, has suggested that US companies could soon return to Russia.
In the event of a ceasefire deal, “you would be able to have American companies come back and do business there,” Witkoff said.
Many US and European businesses divested their businesses in Russia following the unprecedented sanctions imposed by the West in the aftermath of the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.
A number of the market niches vacated by Western companies during the exodus have since been filled by Russian firms, Dmitriev stated in an interview with Reuters last week.
According to the RDIF, US firms lost more than $300 billion as a result of leaving the Russian market.
