CNN: Kremlin Assembles Team for Direct Talks with U.S. About Ukraine

The Kremlin has begun assembling a high-level negotiation team tasked with engaging in direct talks with the United States regarding the cessation of the war in Ukraine. Insiders familiar with the situation suggest that the team will include influential political, intelligence, and economic figures, as reported by NewsBox.

According to information from CNN, although the official lineup is not yet public, it is known that the group will include a Russian official who played a "key behind-the-scenes role" in a recent agreement to release American prisoners.

One of the central figures in the negotiation team will be Kirill Dmitriev, a "close advisor to Putin," who will focus on reestablishing economic ties between the U.S. and Russia as part of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

"Kirill Dmitriev, a close advisor to Putin, will concentrate on restoring economic connections between the U.S. and Russia, as both sides aim to reach a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine," informed insiders report, according to the channel.

Dmitriev recently took an active role in discussions with U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, resulting in the release of American teacher Marc Fogel from Russia.

Witkoff stated that Dmitriev was instrumental as a "mediating interlocutor" in this process.

Dmitriev's inclusion, the head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund currently under sanctions, indicates that the Russian side will likely focus on reducing sanctions pressure and reestablishing economic connections with the West. Dmitriev is known within Russian political circles as a supporter of Trump and has previously stated that Trump's election victory "opens new opportunities for resetting relations between Russia and the United States."