US-Russia talks on Ukraine expand to multibillion-dollar oil deal
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff (photo: Getty Images)
US-Russia talks on ending the war in Ukraine have expanded beyond the peace process itself. A potential multibillion-dollar deal involving assets of Russian oil company Lukoil is also being discussed, The New York Times reports.
According to journalists, if the deal is signed and implemented, it could prove extremely lucrative for several prominent businessmen.
These include entrepreneurs close to US President Donald Trump and his special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Insiders told the media that negotiations over the deal have been underway for several months.
It is also known that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was the one who raised the issue of selling Lukoil's assets. He reportedly proposed the deal as a way to show Russians that business ties with the US could be restored.
US President Donald Trump's team agreed to explore the proposal. The White House views the potential deal not only as a way to improve relations with the Kremlin but also as an opportunity to influence global energy prices.
If Washington approves the decision Putin is seeking, Lukoil's assets could be exempted from US sanctions. If that happens, their market value would increase significantly.
Although Lukoil is a private company, Moscow believes that the final decision on such a large-scale deal would depend on Putin. The assets are located in different parts of the world, ranging from oil fields in Cameroon to refineries in Europe and a network of gas stations in New Jersey.
Thus, the potential deal effectively depends on the decisions of the two presidents — Putin and Trump.
According to insiders, the group of potential buyers of Lukoil's assets includes US investor Todd Boehly, who has direct ties to Trump.
The US has already changed the deadlines for selling Lukoil’s assets several times.
It was also previously reported why the Kremlin did not like Washington's new idea for easing sanctions on Russia.
