Trump ready to offer Russia business deals before the end of the war — NYT

The Trump administration is considering offering Russia the opportunity to conduct business and conclude deals even before the end of the war in Ukraine.

This is reported by The New York Times, citing sources.

According to the outlet, Washington intends in this way to demonstrate to Moscow the seriousness of its intentions to restart bilateral relations and to create additional incentives for the Russian elite to end the war. The specific deals under discussion are not yet known.

The newspaper notes that this approach differs from Trump’s previous position, in which he stated that deals with Russia would only be possible after the war ended.

The NYT also reports details of a recent meeting at the Kremlin attended by Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner. According to the outlet, Vladimir Putin told the Americans that Russia would capture all of the Donbas within a few months and would be able to strike Ukraine’s energy infrastructure hard. In response, Kushner reminded the Russian president that he had told them the same thing a year ago:

“What are the chances we come back here in another year and you say the same thing again? Maybe we shouldn’t waste a year?” — Kushner said.

The NYT separately mentioned Congress’s passage of a “hellish sanctions” bill against Russia. Commenting on the overall logic of the administration’s actions, the outlet observed: “But if the Trump administration is pursuing a carrot-and-stick approach with Putin, the emphasis seems to be on the carrots.”

The Kremlin has already responded to the passage of the sanctions bill, stating that new restrictions, if imposed, “will complicate efforts to find a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.” Meanwhile, media reports indicate that Trump plans to sign the bill but is unlikely to impose the sanctions immediately.