Russia seeks US sanctions relief in exchange for energy ceasefire with Ukraine - Kyiv Independent
Russia is demanding sanctions relief from the United States as part of negotiations over a possible ceasefire covering attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine, according to a Kyiv Independent investigation citing Ukrainian and American officials familiar with the talks.
Moscow is also seeking to link the proposed energy ceasefire to a separate agreement covering the Black Sea, the Kyiv Independent reported on October 9.
The demands come as Russian forces intensify attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. A senior Ukrainian defense official told the outlet that Moscow was seeking to inflict maximum damage on the country's energy system to strengthen its position ahead of potential negotiations.
Publicly, the Kremlin has dismissed the idea of a limited ceasefire. On October 8, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia saw no point in negotiating a pause in attacks on energy facilities.
“Kyiv is not currently proposing a long-term settlement, but rather a ceasefire in an area that is its Achilles' heel — the energy sector,” Peskov said.
However, two Ukrainian officials and one US official told the Kyiv Independent that Russian representatives had privately signaled willingness to consider the proposal.
According to officials briefed on the discussions, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev raised sanctions relief during meetings with US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in September. Dmitriev visited the United States twice that month.
It remains unclear which sanctions Moscow wants lifted.
A European diplomat familiar with the discussions suggested Russia might seek access to frozen Russian assets, warning that any released funds could be used to escalate the war.
“No one really thinks they are genuinely seeking to adhere to a ceasefire,” the diplomat told the outlet.
Ukrainian officials confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that Moscow was demanding sanctions relief but said they did not know which restrictions Russia wanted removed.
Kyiv opposes granting Russia economic concessions in exchange for a pause in energy strikes. Ukrainian officials argue that any agreement should require both sides to stop attacking each other's energy infrastructure without additional benefits for Moscow.
“Every time negotiations begin, they come up with more and more demands,” one Ukrainian official said. “Now this lifting of sanctions has come up.”
A Ukrainian delegation is scheduled to meet Witkoff and Kushner in the United States on October 9 to discuss the proposed energy and Black Sea ceasefires and seek clarification of Russia's demands.
The negotiations are taking place against the backdrop of stalled broader peace talks, with Washington pursuing a narrower agreement that could reduce attacks without resolving the territorial disputes at the center of Russia's war against Ukraine.
According to the Kyiv Independent, Washington has also proposed a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States in late October. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated Ukraine would support such a meeting.
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