On October 24, analysts from the Veza Public Analytics Center discussed a surprising development: Kirill Dmitriev, a representative of Vladimir Putin, made a swift visit to Washington shortly after the United States imposed new sanctions against Russia, initiated by Donald Trump.
Official information about the visit remains limited, but available reports indicate that Dmitriev may have met with senior US officials, with discussions focused on sanctions and further US actions towards Russia, as well as the potential escalation of the conflict. The analytical discussion suggested that this visit points to Moscow’s attempt to clarify Western sanction details and the intentions of certain Russian leadership groups to influence decisions regarding the war and economic ties.
The conversation also highlighted the likelihood of internal disagreements within the Kremlin and the influence of business groups seeking to end the war and restore economic relations with the West. Diplomatic steps by the Trump administration, channels of communication between the Kremlin and the White House, and the possible impact of the upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict were analyzed separately.
Participants underscored that the sanctions will only reach their full effect after several months, but a decline in Russian exports is already apparent. The forecast is that continued international pressure on Russia objectively benefits Ukraine, but the development scenarios remain open due to the complex internal politics of Russia and external factors.
