The administration of US President Donald Trump is discussing lifting sanctions on the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and other Russian assets in Europe as part of broader talks about ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, Politico news site reported.
According to five White House insiders interviewed by the political magazine, Trump’s special envoy to Russia. Steve Witkoff, is the leading force behind the initiative, and has instructed his team to compile a list of all energy sanctions the United States has imposed on Russia.
In a White House press release, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Witkoff denied that there were any talks about easing sanctions.
“This is false. Neither of us have had any conversations about lifting sanctions on Russia as part of a peace deal with Ukraine. This is just totally fictitious and irresponsible reporting from Politico, a fifth-rate publication. If they have an ounce of journalistic integrity they will fully retract this piece of fiction,” the statement reads.
One source told Politico that the idea of lifting energy sanctions had not received broad support within the White House, and that Rubio had actively worked to block it. Among others opposing the idea is Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who also heads the White House Energy Dominance Council, according to sources.
“There is an internal White House debate between the energy dominance people — Burgum, who wants markets for U.S. LNG — and Witkoff, who wants to be closer to Russia,” said one of the sources, referring to liquid natural gas.
“Restarting Nord Stream 2 could provide a financial windfall to Moscow, but only if the EU agreed to accept buying Russian gas via the pipeline again — a prospect that seems unlikely given the EU’s campaign to wean itself off Russian energy imports. But lifting the sanctions would amount to a diplomatic coup for Russia and a major concession from Trump,” Politico’s reporters wrote.
Trump signed an executive order earlier this month to extend the sanctions for an additional year on Russia, put into place by his predecessor Joe Biden.