Russian Envoy To Meet US Officials In Davos In First Such Engagement At WEF Since 2022

Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev is planning meetings with members of the US delegation on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, signalling

rare direct engagement between Moscow and Washington.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Dmitriev would hold discussions with “some representatives of the American delegation,” without naming those involved. He said the talks would focus on efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

“I can confirm that he does indeed have such plans,” Peskov said. “Kirill Dmitriev will convey information to that side and back again regarding the peace process in Ukraine.”

Why this matters

Dmitriev’s presence in Davos is significant because it marks the first time since 2022 that a senior Russian representative has publicly engaged with counterparts at the forum. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow was effectively excluded from Davos, with no official Russian delegation invited in subsequent years.

His planned meetings underscore a tentative reopening of communication channels between Russia and the United States, even as formal diplomatic ties remain strained and wide-ranging sanctions stay in place.

A rare channel of dialogue

As head of Russia’s sovereign investment fund, Dmitriev has often been used as a non-traditional interlocutor, operating at the intersection of finance and diplomacy. His role allows Moscow to test messages and explore possible openings without deploying senior political figures who remain largely isolated internationally.