Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin insider previously sanctioned by the U.S., made a surprising visit to Washington in April 2025. His visit marks a major shift in U.S.-Russia diplomacy, coinciding with the Trump administration's push to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine and pursue a broader reset in relations with Moscow. Professor Radchenko is cautious about the motives behind the visit: while dialogue is good, he suggests that Russia may be exploiting the opening to rebuild ties while sidelining accountability for Ukraine.