In a stunning move reminiscent of the way things are more commonly done in the Kremlin, Donald Trump has unilaterally swept aside three years of U.S. sanctions against Russia designed to force an end to the war in Ukraine, and issued an invitation — and a special visa — to Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s Presidential Envoy on Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation and head of the country’s sovereign wealth fund.

After a few days of hints from the White House that Dmitriev might be coming, followed by ambiguous statements from the Kremlin that nothing had actually been decided, we learned yesterday that he was already here.

Dmitriev told reporters on Thursday that he had met earlier in the day with members of the Trump administration, though he did not say specifically with whom he had spoken. What he did offer was this:

“I think [with] the Trump administration, we are now in [a] realm of thinking about what is possible, what can really work, and how we can find a long-term solution. Without doubt, we note a positive dynamic in our relations.” [RFE/RL, April 4, 2025.]

And then came that big Russian “but” . . .

“Of course, there are disagreements on various points, but there is a process, there is a dialogue, which in our understanding will help to overcome these disagreements. A series of meetings will still be needed for us to resolve all our differences. But the main thing we see a positive, creative attitude.” [Id.]

And he added on Telegram that restoring dialogue “is a difficult and gradual process. But each meeting, each frank conversation allows us to move forward.” [Id.]

So, once again — as the war drags on and more Ukrainian civilians are killed — we are left knowing nothing: not the people involved in the meeting, a general idea of what was discussed, or what next steps might be under consideration. He did say, though, that the unnamed members of the Trump administration conducted themselves “with great respect, ask a lot of questions, find compromises,” and that he “invited colleagues from the United States to visit Russia.” [Id.]

How nice! Ukrainian President Zelensky gets humiliation; Russia’s envoy gets great respect and compromises. Zelensky gets shown the door; Dmitriev invites us for a reciprocal play date on their turf.

We are now being referred to as “colleagues” from the United States. What’s next . . . “comrades”?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
4/4/25