Russia Confirms 2022-Sanctioned State Fund in U.S. Relief Talks as Trump Weighs Reset
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 28
Russia Confirms 2022-Sanctioned State Fund in U.S. Relief Talks as Trump Weighs Reset
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 28
Summary
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Russia has been discussing sanctions relief with the Trump administration for the Russian Direct Investment Fund, confirming a report that the talks have been underway for some time.
The administration is assessing the fund’s application through established procedures, and a U.S. official said the review is part of an effort to improve U.S.-Russia relations and help end the war in Ukraine.
The Biden administration sanctioned the fund days after Russia’s February 2022 invasion, calling it a Putin “slush fund”; RDIF has invested billions of dollars in Russian companies and partnered with Middle Eastern investors.
Democrats in Congress said the possible concession shows Trump is too willing to cut business deals with Putin, especially after he earlier this month suspended sanctions on Russian diesel in exchange for higher exports.