Trump administration weighs business deals with Russia before Ukraine war ends

September 18, 2026 at 02:37 PM2 min

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The Trump administration is considering business deals with Russia before the war in Ukraine ends, according to The New York Times. The shift comes as special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner seek new ways to persuade Moscow to halt fighting. The White House faces stiff resistance from Congress, which recently approved a sweeping sanctions package against Russia's energy sector.

Key Facts

The Trump administration is considering business deals with Russia before the war in Ukraine ends, The New York Times reported, citing U.S. officials and people close to the talks.
Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are seeking new ways to persuade Russia to halt fighting, as Ukraine refuses to cede unoccupied parts of Donetsk region demanded by Putin.
Russian negotiators have proposed joint projects in rare earth metals, aluminum, Arctic initiatives, and U.S. involvement in selling Russian LNG to Europe.
Congress recently approved a sanctions package against Russia's energy sector, including tariffs up to 100% for countries buying Russian oil and gas, now awaiting Trump's signature.
Trump is separately discussing a $500 million deal with Zelensky for access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals and gas in exchange for security guarantees.

Policy Reversal

The Trump administration is considering business deals with Russia before the war in Ukraine ends, The New York Times reported, citing U.S. officials and people close to the talks. This marks a sharp reversal from Trump's pledge a year ago that no economic cooperation with Moscow would resume until the war was settled. Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are seeking new ways to persuade Russia to halt fighting, as Ukraine refuses to cede unoccupied parts of Donetsk region demanded by Putin. The White House believes that concluding deals before the war ends would show U.S. seriousness and help persuade anti-American hawks around Putin to accept a peace settlement.

Proposed Deals

No concrete agreements have been signed, but Russian negotiators have proposed joint projects in rare earth metals, aluminum, Arctic initiatives, and U.S. involvement in selling Russian LNG to Europe. Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that the September meeting with Witkoff and Kushner discussed 'large mutually beneficial Russian-American projects'. The White House is promoting this strategy despite stiff resistance from Congress, which recently approved a sweeping sanctions package against Russia's energy sector. The legislation includes tariffs up to 100% for countries that buy Russian oil and gas, and now awaits Trump's signature.

Internal Opposition

Some officials within the administration are skeptical, fearing that economic preferences for Russia before a ceasefire would weaken Western positions and reduce pressure on Putin. Trump is separately discussing a $500 million deal with Zelensky for access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals and gas in exchange for security guarantees. Russia, the U.S., and Ukraine may hold talks as early as October, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, though no concrete agreements have been reached.