US, Russian Delegates Met in Florida on Wednesday

Talks focused on restoring US-Russia relations and global energy market disruptions amid the Iran war

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:22pm

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Representatives of the U.S. and Russian governments, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Kremlin economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev, met in Florida on March 11 to discuss a variety of topics, including potential projects to help restore U.S.-Russia relations and the impact of the ongoing conflict in Iran on global energy markets.

Why it matters

The meeting between U.S. and Russian officials comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries due to the war in Ukraine and recent allegations that Russia has provided intelligence to Iran. The discussions focused on finding ways to improve the strained bilateral relationship and address the global energy crisis exacerbated by the Iran conflict.

The details

The U.S. delegation included special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner (Trump's son-in-law and adviser), and White House senior adviser Josh Gruenbaum. The Russian side was led by Kirill Dmitriev, President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for international economic and investment cooperation. The teams discussed a variety of topics and agreed to stay in touch, according to Witkoff.

  • The meeting took place on March 11, 2026 in Florida.
  • It came just days after a phone call between President Trump and President Putin on March 9, 2026.

The players

Steve Witkoff

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East.

Jared Kushner

U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser.

Josh Gruenbaum

White House senior adviser.

Kirill Dmitriev

Kremlin economic envoy and President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for international economic and investment cooperation.

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What they’re saying

“The teams discussed a variety of topics and agreed to stay in touch.”

— Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East (X)

“The talks touched on potential projects that could help restore U.S.-Russia relations, as well as the 'current crisis situation in global energy markets.'”

— Kirill Dmitriev, Kremlin economic envoy (Telegram)

What’s next

It remains unclear whether the latest U.S.–Russia contacts touched on allegations that Moscow has provided intelligence to Iran, including information that could help Tehran target U.S. forces in the Gulf. This issue may be discussed in future meetings.

The takeaway

The meeting between U.S. and Russian officials highlights the ongoing efforts to improve bilateral relations and address the global energy crisis, despite the tensions caused by the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Iran. The discussions focused on finding common ground and exploring potential projects that could help restore trust between the two countries.