内容摘要：But he declined to set a target for reducing overall net migration, adding that aiming for "arbitrary" figures had "achieved absolutely nothing" in the past.

But he declined to set a target for reducing overall net migration, adding that aiming for "arbitrary" figures had "achieved absolutely nothing" in the past.

A third Russian was not in the room at that point, butpresence in the delegation is a mark of just how important Vladimir Putin sees the economic potential of the Saudi talks.

Dmitriev, 49, is head of Russia's Direct Investment Fund and later joined his colleagues to discuss economic relations."We also need to make joint projects, including, for example, in the Arctic Region, and in other areas," he told reporters.Significantly, Dmitriev played a key role in working with Steve Witkoff in the prisoner exchange that preceded Trump's phone-call with Putin last week, along with Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman.

Dmitriev has close connections to Putin's family - his wife is close to one of Putin's daughters.And few Russians know America's finance and business sector better than Dmitriev, as a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs and a graduate of Harvard Business School.

Although he is adamant Russia's economy is doing well, 43% of the budget is going on the war and internal security, inflation is just under 10% and interest rates have hit 21%.

The two Saudi hosts chaired the start of the meeting but did not stay in the room.has played an active role as top Saudi diplomat this year, visiting Lebanon and Europe and hosting an international meeting aimed at lifting sanctions on Syria.

Saudi national security adviserhas also played a prominent part in promoting Saudi ties with Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Although Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman takes the lead on foreign policy, these two men are regularly by his side.St Pauls carnival has announced scaled-back plans for 2025.