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U.S. envoy meets Kremlin aide at St. Petersburg forum

8/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Rodney Mims Cook Jr. met with Kremlin aide Anton Kobyakov in June 2026 and attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the first U.S. official there in a decade.
The Financial Times reported Cook received a diplomatic passport and briefings, as White House officials hoped his envoy role might break the Ukraine deadlock.
Cook declined to answer whether President Donald Trump sent him and later held a roundtable with Seagal.

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Story summary

Rodney Mims Cook Jr. met with Kremlin aide Anton Kobyakov in June 2026 and attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the first U.S. official there in a decade.
The Financial Times reported Cook received a diplomatic passport and briefings, as White House officials hoped his envoy role might break the Ukraine deadlock.
Cook declined to answer whether President Donald Trump sent him and later held a roundtable with Seagal.