TL;DR: During an official U.S. visit, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev said Russia and American conservatives are “much more similar,” emphasizing shared values on faith and family and praising President Trump as a defender of Western civilization. The comments mark Moscow’s push for ideological alignment with Western conservatives amid tensions over new U.S. sanctions.
What Happened
- Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s Direct Investment Fund and President Putin’s special envoy, visited the U.S. in late October 2025 for official talks following new sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump.
- In interviews with Lara Logan and CNN, Dmitriev stated that Russia and U.S. conservatives share traditional values like family, children’s education, and faith.
- He said, “We all care about our families… and we are much more similar,” while criticizing “Western decadence,” Europe’s immigration policies, and transgender rights.
- Dmitriev praised President Trump as the “savior of Western civilization,” contrasting Trump’s leadership with what he described as liberal “woke suicide” in Europe.
Context and Reactions
- Dmitriev’s remarks fit Moscow’s broader effort to build a “global conservative alliance” linking Russia ideologically with Western right-wing movements.
- Pro-Russia commentators framed it as evidence of conservative unity, while critics accused Dmitriev of ignoring Russia’s own societal issues and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Diplomatic Angle
- The visit, confirmed by CNN sources, comes days after Trump’s sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil and amid talks over Ukraine, energy cooperation, and prisoner exchanges.
- Dmitriev claimed Russia, the U.S., and Ukraine are “quite close to a diplomatic solution” and said sanctions would mainly hurt U.S. consumers.
- He also confirmed ongoing discussions for a future Trump-Putin summit, despite current strains.