Putin envoy: Russia-US talks on energy and economy continue

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, June 4 — Russia and the United States are continuing discussions on economic and energy issues despite a pause in formal Ukraine peace negotiations, according to Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who said he held talks with U.S. counterparts earlier this week.

The Kremlin said on May 18 that the Russia-Ukraine peace process had been put on hold, though it expected negotiations to resume at some point. It added that contacts between Moscow and Washington are still ongoing at various levels.

“We talked to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner yesterday. So the dialogue continues, and there is constant communication,” Dmitriev said on the sidelines of Russia’s main annual economic forum.

POSSIBILITY OF TRILATERAL TALKS

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin last spoke on April 29, when they discussed a possible temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the anniversary of the end of World War II. Dmitriev last met with Witkoff and Kushner in April.

Since the brief ceasefire discussions, fighting has intensified. Russia has carried out drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine has targeted refineries, ports, and industrial facilities deep inside Russian territory.

The U.S.-mediated peace process, which began during Russia-U.S. talks in Riyadh in February last year, has stalled over the status of parts of the Donbas region still controlled by Ukraine. Moscow has insisted these areas must be handed over before any final agreement is reached.

Dmitriev said not all Russia-U.S. discussions are focused on Ukraine, adding that both sides continue to engage on energy markets, economic issues, and broader global stability. He also said the possibility of future trilateral talks involving Ukraine remains open.

“And then when the time is right, I think there will be an opportunity also for trilateral discussions, but this is more on a diplomatic track,” he said.

The United States on May 18 extended for a third time a 30-day sanctions waiver allowing limited purchases of Russian seaborne oil, a move aimed at helping energy-vulnerable countries affected by global market disruptions linked to the Iran war.

Dmitriev, who has participated in previous discussions with the Trump administration on sanctions waivers, said U.S. officials understand the role such measures play in stabilizing global energy markets during crises.

“Extending waivers before was good for the markets,” he said. “I think the U.S. administration understands that without Russian oil and gas, it is impossible to have stability in the energy markets.”

He declined to say whether the waiver would be extended again this month.

-Reporting by Gleb Bryanski; Editing by Mark Potter/Reuters