Rodney Mims Cook Jr, Chair of the US Commission on Fine Arts, visited St Petersburg this summer at Donald Trump’s initiative and held private meetings with Kremlin representatives, including Anton Kobyakov. The US had hoped that this channel would help to revitalise negotiations regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Briefly about the main points
- The FT reported on Rodney Cook’s private contacts with the Kremlin.
- According to the newspaper, the trip was initiated by Donald Trump.
- Cook allegedly held a diplomatic passport and had received special training.
- The visit was officially presented as participation in a cultural round-table discussion.
- The American side had hoped to keep the talks on the war in Ukraine going.
Travelling on a diplomatic passport
Pros. data According to the Financial Times, prior to his trip, Cook was issued with a diplomatic passport and received special briefings. The visit took place against the backdrop of Washington’s efforts to find ways to advance negotiations on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Cook chairs the US Commission on the Fine Arts — an independent federal advisory body. The Commission advises the US government on design, architecture and public spaces; it does not perform traditional diplomatic functions.
A public cultural event and contacts with the Kremlin
Officially, the trip was described as a «cultural visit». The public part of the visit took place on St Petersburg International Economic Forum: On 4 June, Cook took part in a two-hour round-table discussion entitled «Russia–US: A Dialogue of Cultures».
At the same time, the FT reports that whilst in Russia, he met with Kremlin officials. Among them, the newspaper named Anton Kobyakov, who is listed on the Kremlin’s website as an adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and a special representative for international cooperation in the transport sector.
Also taking part in the forum discussion were Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation; Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the Hermitage; Valery Gergiev, conductor; and Vladimir Legoyda, a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church.
According to the FT, the US believed that informal contacts could help to move the peace talks forward. These discussions took place alongside the official talks in which representatives from Ukraine, the US and Russia had previously taken part.
Cook himself declined to comment on his meetings with Russian officials.
