Kirill Dmitriev is a rare breed of Russian diplomat. At 50, he is relatively young and he has a deep understanding of the US, having studied and worked there for several years. He is also a man of commerce, as head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, and a good fit for his opposite number in the Trump administration, special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Dmitriev now finds himself under the spotlight over a draft peace plan that emerged after he spent three days with Witkoff in Miami. His team has refused to comment on its proposals, which read like a Putin wishlist, requiring Ukraine to cede territory under its control and slash the size of its military.
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky has been careful not to reject its terms, but says any deal must bring a dignified peace, with terms that respect our independence, our sovereignty.
Putin's special envoy understands modern Ukraine better than most in Moscow. He was brought up in Ukraine, and a friend claims that as a 15-year-old Dmitriev took part in pro-democracy protests in Kyiv before the fall of the Soviet Union.
Dmitriev has been a fixture of US-Russian diplomatic initiatives almost since the start of Trump's second presidency. He emphasizes peace as essential, stating, We are sure we are on the road to peace, and as peacemakers we need to make it happen. His role has been pivotal in smoothing diplomatic relations, including facilitating the release of an American teacher from a Russian jail earlier this year.
However, Dmitriev's approach hasn't been without challenges. When Trump announced sanctions on Russian oil firms, Dmitriev faced criticism, branded a Russian propagandist for his remarks on US fuel prices.
Despite the efforts to strengthen US-Russia ties, Dmitriev is under scrutiny, condemned in Ukraine where sanctions have been imposed against him for alleged crimes involving Ukraine and its citizens. His rise underscores the complexities of diplomacy in an era marked by tension and skepticism on both sides of the Atlantic.
