Putin's Envoy: "US-Russia Summit Not Canceled... Leaders Likely to Meet in the Future"

Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Special Representative for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation for Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated on October 24 (local time) that the US-Russia summit has not been canceled.

In an interview with CNN that day, Special Representative Dmitriev commented on the US-Russia summit, which US President Donald Trump had announced as canceled, saying, "It has not been canceled, and there is a high possibility that the two leaders will meet in the future."

Previously, President Putin also stated that he considered the summit with President Trump not canceled but postponed.

Special Representative Dmitriev said, "I believe that Russia, the United States, and Ukraine are actually quite close to a diplomatic solution," but did not disclose specific details regarding the discussions on ending the war.

As negotiations over a plan to end the war in Ukraine faced setbacks, President Trump announced on October 22 that he was canceling the summit with President Putin, which was scheduled to be held in Budapest, Hungary.

Immediately afterward, the United States imposed sanctions on two major Russian oil companies and their subsidiaries, and President Putin expressed his intention to continue dialogue by sending a special envoy to the United States.

Special Representative Dmitriev, who arrived in the United States that day, explained that this visit was made at the invitation of the United States and had been planned for a long time. He declined to comment on whom he would meet or what issues would be discussed during his visit.

However, US media outlet Axios reported that Dmitriev is scheduled to meet Steve Witkoff, President Trump's Special Envoy for the Middle East, in Miami on October 25.

Despite US pressure targeting Russia, Dmitriev told Reuters, "Dialogue between Russia and the United States will continue," adding, "However, this will only be possible if Russia's interests are respected and taken into consideration."

He also argued that the US oil sanctions "will ultimately lead to an increase in US gasoline prices."