Ukraine: Trump is considering trade deals with Putin before the war ends
According to the NYT, the president is reportedly considering using any new partnerships as leverage to reach an agreement on Kyiv
The White House is considering the possibility of signing economic agreements with Russia before the end of the war in Ukraine. This is according to The New York Times, citing ‘two sources close to the talks’. According to the NYT, this contrasts with the approach taken so far, which held that only increased economic and military pressure on the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, could force him to back down compromises.
However, the US now believes that economic cooperation could become one of the tools for moving the negotiations forward and convincing the anti-American hardliners in Putin’s inner circle that Donald Trump wants to forge new relations.
According to the NYT, these are possible agreements that Washington could conclude with Moscow, regardless of whether or not a comprehensive peace agreement on Ukraine is reached. This reflects Trump’s desire to continue negotiations with the Kremlin whilst also seeking opportunities to re-establish economic relations with Russia. However, there is no unanimous agreement within the US administration on how quickly such agreements with Moscow should be reached.
Some officials believe that providing Russia with economic incentives until the end of the war could weaken its ability to exercise pressure on the Kremlin. According to the New York Times, possible areas of cooperation under consideration include energy, investment and other sectors in which American and Russian companies could potentially resume interaction.
At the same time, any serious economic agreement will depend on the US sanctions regime. Some restrictions against Russia remain in place, and a new initiative by the US Congress envisages further pressure on the Russian energy sector and other sources of revenue for the Kremlin.
