Dmitryev, chief of Russia’s Direct Investment Fund, landed in Washington amid U.S. sanctions on Russian energy giants, claiming to present Moscow’s stance while Ukraine suffers daily missile raids.
Arrival Amid U.S. Sanctions
Dmitryev arrived in Washington as the United States announced sanctions against major Russian energy companies, while President Donald Trump declined a meeting with Putin until preliminary agreements on peace in Ukraine are reached. Dmitryev asserted his mission was to convey Russia’s position and demonstrate the futility of pressure on Moscow. However, the trip is widely viewed as a propagandistic effort by the Kremlin.
Mission Narrative vs. Reality
While Dmitryev presented himself as advancing dialogue, the Kremlin’s campaign paints a picture of seeking compromise while the Russian army continues large‑scale attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Ukraine Sinks into Tragedy
During Dmitryev’s meetings with U.S. politicians, Ukraine again mourned casualties from missile and drone attacks. On the night of 25‑26 October, three people— a 19‑year‑old girl, her 46‑year‑old mother, and an unidentified victim— were killed; 33 civilians, including two children, were wounded. The previous night, two people died and thirteen others were injured, causing damage across three districts of Kyiv.
Dmitryev’s Statements in Washington
Dmitryev declared that the U.S. was making “titanic attempts to break Russia‑U.S. talks” and informed that U.S. officials had been “directly notified” of Putin’s recent meeting with Russian military leadership, during which the leader boasted about missile tests and claimed a “surround” of Ukrainian forces near Kupiansk. He reiterated the Kremlin line that resolving the conflict in Ukraine is possible only by eliminating its causes—namely NATO expansion and Ukraine’s aspirations to join the alliance—while assuring that the Russian economy remains healthy and that sanctions cannot destroy it.
Analysts Question Effectiveness
The U.S. Institute for War & Peace Reporting described the visit as a tool for spreading Kremlin narratives in the American information space. Dmitryev’s interviews attempted to portray Russia’s economy as stable and sanctions as ineffective. Soviet‑Era historians linked the trip to Moscow’s anxiety over U.S. policies, especially sanctions on Russian oil firms and discussions about providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Ukrainian commentator Wadieh Denysenko called the mission a failure, noting Dmitryev met only low‑level figures like Steve Witkoff, while Andrij Kowalenko criticized the visit as proof that Russia lacks genuine dialogue ambitions and instead seeks to dissuade further sanctions.
