White House considers business deals with Russia before Ukraine war ends - NYT
The Trump administration is considering signing business deals with Russia before the end of the war in Ukraine, reversing its previous position that economic agreements would have to wait until the fighting was over, The New York Times reported, citing two people close to the talks.
A U.S. official told the newspaper that reaching some agreements before the war ends could demonstrate that Washington is serious about resetting relations with Moscow.
The administration also hopes that offering economic incentives could encourage members of Russia's elite to push for an end to the war, according to the official.
It remains unclear what specific agreements could be involved.
After Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on Sept. 5, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said the talks included "economic issues and potential major mutually beneficial Russian-American projects."
The approach would mark a shift from President Donald Trump's position last year, when he said Russia wanted to do business with the United States but added: "They're not doing business until we get the war settled."
The discussions come as Congress has passed a new sanctions bill targeting Russia's energy sector.
The legislation would allow Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying large amounts of Russian oil or gas and would impose sanctions on Russian officials, businesspeople and financial institutions.
Trump has indicated that he will sign the bill.
The sanctions legislation and the administration's consideration of economic incentives come as Washington seeks to revive negotiations aimed at ending the war. U.S. envoys traveled to Moscow and Kyiv earlier this month, and Ukrainian officials have said trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States could resume in October.