---
title: "Kremlin Rejects US Initiative to Ease Sanctions in Exchange for Prisoners"
description: "The Kremlin criticized Donald Trump's team idea to ease anti-Russian sanctions in exchange for prisoners, stating there are no political prisoners in the country."
date: 2026-09-30T11:32:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kremlin-rejects-us-initiative-sanctions
tags: [russia, usa, sanctions, dmitry-peskov, donald-trump, politics]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Kremlin Rejects US Initiative to Ease Sanctions in Exchange for Prisoners

![Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov at a briefing](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/30/kreml-otverg-initsiativu-ssha-po-sanktsiyam/kreml-otverg-initsiativu-ssha-po-sanktsiyam-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Peskov called the US approach to easing sanctions incorrect
- The Kremlin stated there are no political prisoners in Russia
- US Special Envoy John Cole promoted the quid pro quo principle
- Contacts on prisoner exchanges proceed through intelligence channels

Official Moscow has responded to US media reports regarding plans by Donald Trump's presidential team to potentially revise sanctions policy against Russia. The discussion was sparked by reports in The Atlantic stating that Washington was considering a scenario of partially easing restrictive measures based on a quid pro quo principle. Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov publicly commented on the initiative, calling the White House's approach flawed.

### Essence of the US Initiative and the Kremlin's Reaction

According to insiders, US President's Special Envoy for Eastern Europe John Cole worked on developing the new Eastern European strategy in coordination with Steve Witkoff, who maintains contact with Moscow. It was assumed that easing sanctions pressure could pave the way for major business deals even before the conflict in Ukraine is resolved. However, the Kremlin stated that the proposed formula is unacceptable because it links economic issues with the release of individuals whom the West terms political prisoners.

### Contradictory Data

While Western media outlets, citing sources, claimed that Washington was seeking compromise mechanisms to exchange sanctions relief for the release of individuals, the Russian side flatly rejected this framing. Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the Russian Federation allegedly has no political prisoners and that such a formulation of the issue is entirely inappropriate. Nevertheless, the Kremlin representative confirmed working contacts between relevant agencies and intelligence services of the two countries, which continue to maintain dialogue exclusively along the lines of practical exchanges of detained individuals, ruling out any concessions on sanctions.

### Expert Assessments and Consequences

Analysts note that such information leaks indicate attempts by Donald Trump's inner circle to test the waters for changing the status quo in relations with Moscow. The idea of linking economic sanctions with humanitarian issues has sparked serious debate both within the American establishment—where many congressmen insist on intensifying pressure—and in the Kremlin, which is not ready to make political concessions in exchange for economic dividends. The further development of the situation will largely depend on how prepared the US administration is to take into account the hardline stance of the Russian side and respond to internal resistance in Congress. Currently, the attempt to implement the quid pro quo principle has met with principled rejection from the Kremlin, which continues to insist on the unconditional lifting of sanctions without tying them to Russia's internal affairs.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Кремлю не понравилась идея США по ослаблению санкций против РФ](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/kremlyu-spodobalasya-ideya-ssha-shchodo-poslablennya-1790767582.html) - Официальная новость и реакция Кремля.
- [Освобождения политзаключённых в обмен на санкции не будет – Песков](https://www.svoboda.org/a/peskov-osvobozhdeniya-politzaklyuchyonnyh-v-obmen-na-snyatie-sanktsiy-ne-budet/33867172.html) - Заявление Пескова об отсутствии политзаключенных.
- [Песков: Россия не обсуждала с США обмен заключенных на санкции](https://www.rosbalt.ru/news/2026-09-30/peskov-rossiya-ne-obsuzhdala-s-ssha-obmen-zaklyuchennyh-na-sanktsii-5695464) - Подтверждение позиции Кремля по обмену.
- [Песков: в России нет политзаключенных](https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8990366) - Цитата Пескова о формулировке вопроса.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: How did the Kremlin react to the US sanctions idea?
**A:** The Kremlin called the American side's approach flawed and rejected linking sanctions to the release of prisoners.

### Q: Which US representatives worked on this plan?
**A:** According to media reports, US Special Envoy for Eastern Europe John Cole worked on the plan alongside Steve Witkoff.

### Q: What did Peskov say about political prisoners?
**A:** Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia has no political prisoners and such a framing is entirely inappropriate.