Back
Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The illegitimate president of the aggressor country Russia, Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, at the Kremlin in early September, raised the issue of selling the energy assets of the Russian oil company Lukoil, which is under sanctions, for the first time. The New York Times (NYT) reported this on October 3, citing sources familiar with the talks.
According to the newspaper, this concerns a multibillion‑dollar deal that would include oil fields, refineries, and a network of gas stations in various countries around the world. Potential buyers include U.S. investor Todd Boehly, Middle Eastern business groups with ties to Trump’s circle, including Kushner and the Witkoff family, as well as a U.S. government unit. The deal would require approval from both Moscow and Washington, since its implementation would mean lifting sanctions on Lukoil’s assets, which would instantly raise their value.
Putin, according to the sources, proposed the sale as a signal to Russians that business with the U.S. is possible even under current conditions. American negotiators responded that they would work on it, viewing the deal as a way to reduce global energy prices while also strengthening their position in dialogue with the Kremlin.
The NYT noted that, although Lukoil is formally a private company, major decisions are made personally by Putin. The deal became part of a broader strategy of the Trump administration, which demonstrates a willingness to pursue business arrangements with Russia even before the war in Ukraine is over.
Witkoff and Kushner, who have visited Moscow repeatedly, believe that the prospect of restoring economic ties with the West could push Putin toward a compromise on Ukraine. At the same time, the deal involving Lukoil drew attention to Trump’s cryptocurrency company World Liberty Financial, co‑founded by Witkoff, because one of the investors in the potential purchase is a co‑owner of that firm.
Administration officials confirmed that Trump’s representatives participated in talks over the financial terms of U.S. government investments to secure a significant upfront payment and a share of profits for American taxpayers. A spokeswoman for Witkoff said he has no conflict of interest and does not receive financial benefit from working on behalf of Trump.
In addition, according to people familiar with the sale process, Putin’s negotiator Kirill Dmitriev was closely involved in the talks. Last month he visited New York and Washington, telling reporters that the “dialogue” with the U.S. “continues in many areas, including energy,” media outlets quoted him as saying.
The deal is not finalized and would require approval from the U.S. Treasury Department, which controls sanctions. However, as the article’s authors emphasize, the decisive word belongs to the White House, since it sets the foreign policy course toward Russia. Earlier this year Lukoil valued its international assets at $20 billion, but the final price and structure of the deal remain unknown, the NYT wrote.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "США та РФ обговорюють не лише мир в Україні. Путін запропонував угоду щодо "Лукойлу" – NYT". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Gordon.
