Overview
- Kirill Dmitriev told an investment forum in Riyadh that he believes peace in Ukraine is possible within a year and said Moscow and Washington are close to a diplomatic solution.
- The envoy spoke days after meetings with Trump administration officials in Washington and pitched U.S.-Saudi-Russian cooperation on natural resources as a stabilizing force.
- A recent U.S. intelligence assessment, shared with lawmakers, concludes Vladimir Putin shows no willingness to compromise and is more determined than ever to continue the war.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed Dmitriev as a propagandist and defended fresh sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil as leverage to pressure the Kremlin.
- Prospects for talks remain uncertain after the postponement of a Trump–Putin summit, sharper rhetoric from Sergey Lavrov about additional territory, and recent Russian weapons tests.