The most senior Russian official to visit Washington since the start of the Ukraine war said Thursday he had discussed potential cooperation with the United States in the Arctic and on rare earth metals but acknowledged that "disagreements" remain.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund and President Vladimir Putin's special envoy on economic cooperation, said he saw "positive dynamics" in relations with the United States.
The White House has not commented on the talks but they came as President Donald Trump has pushed for a thaw in ties with Moscow, while also expressing frustration at the lack of progress in halting the conflict that has ravaged Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion.
US media reported that Dmitriev arrived Wednesday and was to meet with presidential envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House.
In a video briefing with Russian journalists, Dmitriev said the two sides "discussed possible cooperation in the Arctic, in rare earth metals, in various other sectors where we can build constructive and positive relations."
He added that there was also "active work on restoring air travel, and we hope to make progress on this issue."
"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," Dmitriev told the briefing.
He said there were "positive dynamics" in the relationship but that "it will take a number of more meetings for us to resolve all our differences."
"The dialogue process, the resolution process, it's going to take some time. But, at the same time, it's definitely proceeding in a positive and constructive way."
The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund was recently appointed Putin's special envoy on economic cooperation with foreign countries.
He has praised Trump's higher tariffs on its allies and foes and highlighted that Russia was not one of the countries named, though it already faces massive US sanctions over the Ukraine war.
With AFP
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