Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, is expected to visit Washington this week to meet with United States President Donald Trump’s representative, Steve Witkoff, as part of renewed efforts to secure a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. The news was reported by Axios, citing two unnamed U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

Dmitriev, who leads the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), also serves as a member of Putin’s negotiating team for the Ukraine talks. His visit highlights a notable moment of engagement between the U.S. and Russia amid ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.

According to one official, “His visit is part of ongoing efforts to get a ceasefire with Ukraine.” The planned diplomatic meeting marks a rare occurrence of face-to-face discussion between high-level envoys from both countries since the conflict began.

Dmitriev is currently under U.S. sanctions, which complicated the logistics of the visit. A source told Axios that the U.S. Treasury Department had to temporarily suspend those sanctions for seven days, allowing the State Department to issue a visa permitting his travel to the United States.

The Biden and Trump administrations have previously maintained separate lines of communication with Russia, but this latest move under the Trump presidency signals a potentially more proactive push for mediation and de-escalation in the region.

Observers note that while Dmitriev’s presence in Washington does not guarantee immediate breakthroughs, it may reflect a shared interest in stabilizing the situation through diplomatic channels. Both sides are expected to discuss pathways to an effective ceasefire and the framework for longer-term negotiations.

The RDIF chief has played a central role in past international dealings for Russia and has often served as a conduit for conveying the Kremlin’s strategic objectives. His appearance in Washington is seen as a message that Moscow is willing to pursue formal negotiations, at least in the short term.

The meetings are anticipated to take place behind closed doors, and no public statements have yet been scheduled. However, further developments are expected to emerge following Dmitriev’s visit, which will likely be closely watched by international stakeholders and allies.