Russia's Economic Envoy Criticizes Efforts to Block US-Russia Dialogue Amid Escalating Tensions

Russia Slams "Titanic Attempts" To Block US Talks Amid Tensions

Earlier this week, Trump shelved talks with Putin in Budapest.

Russia's top economic negotiator on Sunday criticized "titanic attempts" to obstruct dialogue with the United States as he visited the country for discussions with American officials following Washington's imposition of sanctions on Moscow's oil companies.

The visit occurs as US President Donald Trump expresses growing frustration with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and his unwillingness to agree to a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict, which has continued for nearly four years.

Trump recently canceled planned talks with Putin in Budapest, stating he wanted to avoid a "wasted" meeting.

However, Putin's economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who arrived in the United States on Friday, emphasized that Moscow remained "committed to constructive dialogue and to clearly communicating Russia's position".

"We're witnessing titanic attempts to disrupt any dialogue between Russia and the US, and to spread disinformation," Dmitriev stated in a video released on Telegram.

A Russian source familiar with the discussions informed AFP that Dmitriev met with Trump administration officials on Friday and Saturday, with talks expected to continue into Sunday.

The Kremlin's representative also met with Republican Congresswoman for Florida Anna Paulina Luna, who was organizing "a meeting between US Congress members and the Russian Duma to encourage parliamentary dialogue", according to his statement on X on Sunday.

In his Telegram video message, Dmitriev - a former Goldman Sachs banker and Stanford graduate - indicated such a meeting would take place "in the near future."

Russia has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Its most recent overnight attack on Kyiv resulted in three fatalities and dozens of injuries, according to the Ukrainian capital's mayor on Sunday.