Kremlin-Linked Businessman Joined Donald Trump Jr. on Mongolian Hunting Trip This Summer – FT

Oct. 27, 2026 An image of Donald Trump Jr. from an earlier hunting trip in 2022. © Field Ethos Donald Trump Jr. spent two days this summer in a remote Mongolian hunting camp with Umar Kremlev, a Russian businessman with close ties to the Kremlin, the Financial Times reported Tuesday. Kremlev was previously revealed to have partly funded Trump Jr.’s wedding on a private Caribbean island in May. U.S. President Donald Trump later said his son repaid Kremlev for those expenses after they were reported by ProPublica last month. Their latest known meeting took place in western Mongolia, according to flight records and local guides cited by the FT, where Trump Jr. was hunting wild game accompanied by a U.S. Secret Service protective detail. Kremlev was said to have flown from a boxing press conference in Kazakhstan to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar on a private jet before traveling directly to Trump Jr.’s camp. A local on that trip told the FT that Trump Jr. and Kremlev were cautious about being photographed together. Trump Jr.’s Mongolian expedition was partially funded through a charity auction that paid winning bidders up to $140,000 for access to the president’s son. Experts, including former U.S. counterintelligence officials, told the FT that personal contacts between the relatives of American presidents and those with links to the Kremlin pose serious security risks. Kremlev is under Ukrainian sanctions due to his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin through Alexei Rubezhny, head of the Kremlin leader’s security service. Trump Jr.’s spokesperson told the FT that his friendship with Kremlev “is largely based on their shared love for hunting, fishing and the outdoors.” “Don has made clear that he has a personal friendship, not a business relationship, with Umar… It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that they went hunting together earlier this year,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying. Kremlev, who heads the International Boxing Association (IBA), did not respond to the FT’s requests for comment. Read more about: United States , Mongolia , Trump Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Market Slides Amid Global Panic Over Trump’s Tariffs Among the biggest losers on Monday was En+ Group, the parent company of aluminum tycoon Oleg Deripaska’s Rusal, which fell 9.76%. 2 Min read News Analysis Putin Seeks to Prolong Ukraine Peace Talks to His Advantage, Experts Say Experts agreed that a delay in any agreement would be helpful to Putin, who is set to benefit from further territorial gains. 4 Min read U.S. and Russia to Resume Nuclear Talks, but China Casts Cloud "The ball is on the American part of the court," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. Putin Warns Against Attempts to Exclude Russia From Global Natural Gas Market The Russian president also confirmed potential joint energy projects with the United States in the Arctic. 2 Min read