The United States is drawing up a plan to potentially give Russia sanctions relief as President Donald Trump seeks to restore ties with Moscow and stop the war in Ukraine, a U.S. official and another person familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The White House has asked the State and Treasury departments to draft a list of sanctions that could be eased for U.S. officials to discuss with Russian representatives in the coming days as part of the administration's broad talks with Moscow on improving diplomatic and economic relations, the sources said.
The sanctions offices are now drawing up a proposal for lifting sanctions on select entities and individuals, including some Russian oligarchs, according to the sources.
So-called options papers are often drafted by officials working on sanctions, but the White House's specific request for one in recent days underscores Trump and his advisers' willingness to ease Russian sanctions as part of a potential deal with Moscow.
It was not immediately clear what Washington could specifically seek in return for any sanctions relief.
The White House, the State Department, the Treasury Department and the Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Kremlin last year described relations as "below zero" under the administration of Joe Biden, a Democrat who backed Ukraine with aid and weapons and imposed tough sanctions on Russia to punish it for its invasion in 2022.
But Trump, who has promised a quick end to the war, has upended U.S. policy swiftly to open talks with Moscow, beginning with a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 12 that was followed by meetings between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Trump in January threatened to ramp up sanctions on Russia if Putin was unwilling to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. But more recently, Trump administration officials have openly acknowledged the possibility of easing sanctions on Moscow.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said during a Feb 20 interview with Bloomberg Television that Russia could win economic relief, depending on how it approached negotiations in the coming weeks. Trump told reporters on Feb 26 that Russian sanctions could be eased "at some point."
The White House asked State and Treasury officials to come up with a possible sanctions relief plan before Trump last week extended a state of emergency over the situation in Ukraine, the U.S. sources said.
The state of emergency sanctions certain assets and people involved in Russia's war. Those measures, imposed by then-President Barack Obama's administration, have been in place since March 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea.
It is unclear which Russian sanctions the Trump administration would consider lifting first.
Trump could issue an executive order that would allow the administration to begin the process of easing some Russian sanctions, but he would also need to seek congressional approval to lift measures on certain entities, said John Smith, a partner at Morrison Foerster law firm and the former head of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has been able to build a wartime economy with increased military spending and industrial production. But experts say the country's economy is vulnerable and in desperate need of Western sanctions relief.
Russia says it is open for economic cooperation. The Kremlin said last week that Russia had lots of rare earth metal deposits and was open to doing deals to develop them after Putin held out the possibility of such collaboration with the U.S.
Any formal economic deal with Moscow would likely require the U.S. to ease sanctions.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
40 Comments
TaiwanIsNotChina
Of course they do. We were always allied with russia!!!
JJE
Sensible news. US companies loss some 300 billion by leaving, probably much more.
Could indicate another fact: Russia has far more minerals and rare earths by many orders of magnitude.
Underworld
Trump confirming that he is the most traitorous president in US history.
Not only is he a traitor to Ukraine, an ally.
Not only is he a traitor to Europe.
Not only is he a traitor to the US.
He is a traitor to world peace.
Underworld
JJE
300 billion is a small price to pay for world peace.
buchailldana
Why doesn't he just prostate himself in front of Putin and be done with it.
Haven't seen such american capitulation since thee fall of Saigon.
TaiwanIsNotChina
At 28 trillion dollars for the US economy, russia is still not noticed.
I'veSeenFootage
I really thought Trump would be a little more subtle with doing absolutely everything Putin wants, maybe spread these type of actions over months or even a year or two, but I was obviously wrong. So it's now official: POTUS is a russian asset.
quercetum
$300 billion loss from sanctions and $300 billion aid. One fifth of eastern Ukraine gone. The U.S. has clearly lost.
That’s why they have referees to stop fights in the ring.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Could be worse: we could have lost close to a million lives and added two new members to an opposing military alliance.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Trump talking points much?
I'veSeenFootage
https://www.factcheck.org/2025/02/trumps-false-and-misleading-ukraine-claims/
Three times this week, Trump said that the U.S. had given Ukraine “$350 billion,” about double the actual amount of U.S. aid for the country. And he wrongly said the U.S. gave “$200 billion more than Europe.” Europe outpaces the U.S., not the other way around.
Since 2022, Congress has appropriated about $174.2 billion in aid for Ukraine, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service, last updated on Jan. 13. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a budget watchdog group, similarly puts the total since the last congressional appropriation at $174.8 billion.
bass4funk
Good
stormcrow
Putin is the puppet master. He controls Trump completely.
It wouldn’t surprise most of us if Putin’s the one who orchestrated that nasty ambush of Zelenskyy in the Oval Office..
JJE
White House should get out in front of the curve and return frozen sovereign assets (with the full interest). Also, order the EU to do the same on the double.
It's a flagrant breach of international law.
Tokyo Guy
I assume this finds favor with our resident Trump Fanatics, but I would have thought that for most Americans, the idea of providing willing financial aid to Russia would be considered an unusual stance for a US administration.
However, the mental contortions involved in explaining why this does not mean that Trump is a Russian asset will make for considerable entertainment.
Underworld
JJE
Well Putin puppet might, but the US isn’t where the money is.
It’s in Europe, and they don’t kowtow to Putin.
Oh? Well so is invading a sovereign nation, so I guess one nullifies the other.
JJE
UN Security Council doesn't view it that way.
Correct that a significant amount are in Europe (particularly Belgium). EU will fold. Credible reports indicate the US is looking to take over a Nord-Stream, which means things are really moving fast now.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Will that be before or after the US takes over Gaza?
Underworld
JJE
You mean Russia doesn’t think that they should lose their assets in return for their illegal war of aggression? Well, I guess not.
They may have in the past. But now they realize that the US president is a Putin puppet, they forge their own path.
Yrral
Is Putin calling in his political marker on Trump or blackmail
Mickelicious
US needs a military coup.
stormcrow
There should be a new musical version of the Wizard of Oz. Trump dressed in drag could play the part of a confused Dorothy who would do anything to meet The Great OZ. As her sidekicks, JD Vance could be the brainless Scarecrow. Rubio could be the Cowardly Lion. And Musk (without a heart) could play the Tin Man. As OZ? Who else but Vladimir Putin! The Wicked Witch could see a special appearance by Marjorie Taylor Greene and The Good Witch played by Elizabeth Warren. However, in this version The Wicked Witch would actually be on Dorothy's (or Trump's) side. And instead of wanting to return to Kansas, Dorothy wants to go to live in Russia forever and ever.
That would be so funny. With AI, maybe somebody is already working on it.
Bob Fosse
He’s compromised. May as well release the pee pee tape. maga would lap it up and explain that it’s perfectly normal behaviour anyway.
patkim
If Trump is so buddy-buddy with Russia, and with the current leadership in the FBI as it is, there is no safeguards now, from Trump sharing any American secrets with Russia. It'll be so easy now for Putin to get his hands on any secret documents and records that America has. We might as well just openly advertise everything our government has.
Putin can simply end this war with Ukraine by pulling out all of his troops. It's that simple. Contrary to all of the lies coming from Trump and his sheep, it was Russia that invaded Ukraine. They violently attacked the Ukrainians and bombed their buildings. It was them who started it all. So, it is Russia that should pull out. Trump and Vance only talked about what concessions Ukrainians had to make, but not once did they mention any concessions that Russia has to make. That is totally evil and despicable.
lincolnman
As if we needed any more proof that Donald is a Russian asset and Putin's Poodle...
Just wait, the sanctions against Xi, The Mullahs, and Kim will all be coming down too - as Trump solidifies his and our country's place within the Axis of Evil...
GuruMick
Wont somebody think of the poor Russian oligarchs !!!
geronimo2006
What Putin wants Trump to do.
Give sanctions relief. Give conquered lands to Russia. Give no real security guarantees to Ukraine. Give up on justice for war crimes committed. And give nothing in return.
HopeSpringsEternal
To get Putin to the table, Trump needs mainly carrots, as Russia likes the current setup with high commodity prices and global inflation, west in political chaos etc.
Russian relations will have to be normalized to achieve peace and achieve global stability needed to restore currency real asset purchasing power = Lower Inflation
iknowall
Of course there are exceptions to these sanctions already, with European countries lining Russia's pockets through huge energy purchases.
wallace
Trump has suspended military aid, including weapons loaded on planes to Ukraine. Now, seeking an end to Russian sanctions begs the question of whose side he is on.
Trump claims the US gave $350 billion to Ukraine when it promised $175 billion and $89 billion in delivery.
Alex
So let me get this Trump is a traitor because he wants the war too end by whatever means possible? .... not sure of the logic of some people especially when they are nowhere near a war zone.
Underworld
Alex
No. He’s a traitor because he wants the terrorist Russians not to pay any penalties for waging a war of aggression on an innocent party. To murder civilians, kidnap children, rape women, all without consequence or redress.
If Russia isn’t stopped, we revert back to constant warfare.
By siding with Russia, Trump is sacrificing national security.
grund
Perhaps Trump could give Putin his own office in the White House as an inofficial advisor?
TokyoLiving
Sure, this will make BRICS stronger..
Very good..
patkim
Nope. Trump doesn't care if the the war ends or not. If he did, he would have stated clearly the concessions that Putin would have to make. If he wanted the war to end, he would make it clear that Putin needs to get his troops out of Ukraine.
If Trump really wanted peace, why would he try to demand minerals from Ukraine, with no security guarantees for Ukraine? With Trump it's all about getting money and appeasing his inflated ego. That's all.
Cephus
"White House seeks plan for possible Russia sanctions relief, sources say."
No plan is needed, just go ahead and remove every sanction. After all these Sanctions were solely based on emotional driven reasonings "President Putin is bad, and President Zelenskyy is good." Therefore Putin should be punished regardless of the economic implications of the outcome.
itsonlyrocknroll
White House seeks plan for possible Russia sanctions relief, sources say
This was the priority agenda, that Putin,Trump phone call, to restore US/Russia relations, political, diplomatic, economic.
I serious wonder, where this all, will leave NATO future?
Underworld
Cephus
That’s not emotional. It’s factual.
stormcrow
Look at the photo above. It’s like Trump is saying:
Mr. Putin, after I’m done shaking your hand and thanking you for noting, it would be an honor to also kiss your behind.
itsonlyrocknroll
The new German government almost "bent double" in denial that secret talks with Gazprom/Russia to restore Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline are underway......
Germany not in talks over Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline revival
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germany-says-not-talks-over-nord-stream-2-gas-pipeline-revival-2025-03-03/
I suggest, German political economic pragmatism, will one way or another prevail.
Trump/Putin leading the way.
'Oh what a tangled web we weave/When first we practice to deceive'......