Moscow advocates for collaborative projects with the US in the Arctic
The leader of the Russian sovereign wealth fund has urged for a restoration of economic collaboration between Moscow and Washington.
TroibNews 
The head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund has advocated for the revival of economic cooperation between Moscow and Washington.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, stated that Russia and the US should explore all avenues of economic collaboration, including initiatives in the Arctic region.
Dmitriev is part of a Russian delegation that recently traveled to Riyadh for discussions with US diplomats. These talks aim to restore bilateral relations and explore potential resolutions to the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
As the leader of the RDIF, which plays a crucial role in the economic aspects of these high-level discussions, Dmitriev emphasized the importance of cooperation and the economic opportunities it could generate for both countries. “We need to pursue joint projects, including, for example, in the Arctic and other areas,” he told reporters.
He also mentioned that the Russian side has put forward various proposals focused on economic and investment opportunities, which the US team is currently considering. Dmitriev expressed optimism for progress on these issues in the coming months.
The discussions were initiated after a phone call last week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. Dmitriev remarked that such dialogue “makes it possible to tell the truth,” highlighting that the previous administration, led by President Joe Biden, “provided a lot of disinformation, a lot of wrong messages” regarding the state of the Russian economy.
Relations between Moscow and Washington fell to their lowest point in decades following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, resulting in both countries frequently expelling each other's diplomats.
Western sanctions against Moscow have also hindered international collaboration in the Arctic. The Arctic Council, which includes all NATO nations such as the US, Canada, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland, has seen nearly a third of its 130 projects in the region frozen due to the suspension of cooperation with Russia.
In the previous year, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the suspension of annual payments to the council until there is a resumption of productive work involving all member countries, clarifying that Russia does not intend to withdraw from the organization.
Despite the strained diplomatic relations and sanctions from Washington and its allies, Moscow has managed to sustain limited cooperation with other Arctic Council members. For instance, it participated in a training exercise last year that simulated a significant oil spill, according to a Reuters report from the previous year.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, stated that Russia and the US should explore all avenues of economic collaboration, including initiatives in the Arctic region.
Dmitriev is part of a Russian delegation that recently traveled to Riyadh for discussions with US diplomats. These talks aim to restore bilateral relations and explore potential resolutions to the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
As the leader of the RDIF, which plays a crucial role in the economic aspects of these high-level discussions, Dmitriev emphasized the importance of cooperation and the economic opportunities it could generate for both countries. “We need to pursue joint projects, including, for example, in the Arctic and other areas,” he told reporters.
He also mentioned that the Russian side has put forward various proposals focused on economic and investment opportunities, which the US team is currently considering. Dmitriev expressed optimism for progress on these issues in the coming months.
The discussions were initiated after a phone call last week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. Dmitriev remarked that such dialogue “makes it possible to tell the truth,” highlighting that the previous administration, led by President Joe Biden, “provided a lot of disinformation, a lot of wrong messages” regarding the state of the Russian economy.
Relations between Moscow and Washington fell to their lowest point in decades following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, resulting in both countries frequently expelling each other's diplomats.
Western sanctions against Moscow have also hindered international collaboration in the Arctic. The Arctic Council, which includes all NATO nations such as the US, Canada, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland, has seen nearly a third of its 130 projects in the region frozen due to the suspension of cooperation with Russia.
In the previous year, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the suspension of annual payments to the council until there is a resumption of productive work involving all member countries, clarifying that Russia does not intend to withdraw from the organization.
Despite the strained diplomatic relations and sanctions from Washington and its allies, Moscow has managed to sustain limited cooperation with other Arctic Council members. For instance, it participated in a training exercise last year that simulated a significant oil spill, according to a Reuters report from the previous year.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
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