Foreign agent Venediktov explained how Kirill Dmitriev appeared at the negotiations.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, was appointed as the Russian president's special representative for the Ukraine negotiations, allegedly "by accident" – on the recommendation of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The former editor-in-chief of the liberal radio station Ekho Moskvy, Alexei Venediktov, who is recognized as a foreign agent, stated this in a conversation with journalist and foreign agent Yulia Latynina, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
"When Whitkoff was appointed, Trump said, ' You'll be handling Russia and Ukraine .' Whitkoff went to Saudi Arabia to finish his business there, to see Prince bin Salman, and, as his friends say, he asked, 'Who in Russia could have the same status as me?' That is, a businessman, someone outside the bureaucracy, more free, and with good connections to the president. And bin Salman mentioned Dmitriev. So Dmitriev came not from Putin, but from bin Salman. And once the negotiations were underway, Whitkoff mentioned Dmitriev to Putin. Putin clarified, ' Bin Salman mentioned him? Okay .' At least that's what Whitkoff told his friends," Venediktov asserts.
He believes that Whitkoff and Dmitriev negotiated successfully, but " couldn't get past the territorial issue ." Last week, foreign agent Venediktov said that the issues of the Russian language and ending the persecution of the Church were insurmountable in the negotiations.
Foreign agent Venediktov explained how Kirill Dmitriev appeared at the negotiations.