The United States is considering a plan aimed at alleviating sanctions against Russia while President Donald Trump moves to restore diplomatic and economic links with Moscow and push at the end of the Ukraine War, said sources Reuters.
The White House has ordered the state and treasure departments to write a list of sanctions that could be lifted, US officials should discuss proposals with Russian representatives in the coming days.
The plan would include the relaxation of restrictions on certain Russian and oligarch entities.
While civil servants regularly prepare options for sanctions policies, this direct request highlights the Trump administration’s desire to negotiate sanctions within the framework of a broader strategy of talks with Moscow. We don’t know what Washington can look in return.
Trump took a different position from the previous administration, which imposed difficult sanctions on Russia after his invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Although he has already threatened more severe sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to negotiate, Trump officials recently recognized the possibility of mitigating restrictions.
The Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, suggested in a recent interview that Russia could receive economic relief according to his approach to negotiations. Trump himself said on February 26 that sanctions could be lifted “at some point.”
Moscow has aroused interest in economic cooperation, in particular with regard to rare land minerals. However, any formal agreement would probably force the United States to relax the sanctions, which raises questions about the future of American policy towards Russia.
