Russian official expresses confidence dialogue can resolve US-Russia differences amid Witkoff visit
The statement comes as US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff held a meeting with Putin, with the former holding talks with the Russian leader on reaching a settlement with Ukraine over Trump's threats to impose 100% sanctions on Moscow, should it fail to reach a peace settlement with Kyiv.
For its part, Russia has downplayed the threat of sanctions, stating that its long years of having stayed under Western embargo has made it develop an 'immunity' to sanctions, adding that additional sanctions mean nothing for its economy, even as the US President has acknowledged Moscow's ability to skirt past the sanctions.
The Kremlin has also mocked the POTUS' deadline manoeuvre, with former Russian President and now Chief of National Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, having engaged in a furious battle of words with Trump over the issue, resulting in the US' deployment of nuclear submarines.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Dmitriev, who is CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), thanked his followers for their 'kind wishes for a successful visit of Steve Witkoff to Moscow,' adding that 'Dialogue will prevail.'
Dmitriev was also part of the Russian delegation which welcomed Witkoff at Vnukovo Airport, and the two were later seen walking through Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin.
Later in the day, Witkoff held face-to-face talks with Putin, which lasted around three hours.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, speaking on the Putin-Witkoff talks noted that both sides managed to hold a constructive and productive conversation which focused on the Ukraine conflict and 'prospects for US-Russia strategic cooperation.'
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