According to the Financial Times, cited by RBC-Ukraine, working groups from US President Donald Trump’s administration and the Russian leadership have focused on restoring the presence of American businesses in the Russian energy market. The discussions, according to journalists, are taking place as part of peace negotiations to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and primarily concern the return of American oil companies to Russia.
Energy, Titanium, and Aviation
In addition to oil and gas, the parties are considering the resumption of Russian titanium exports to the US — a metal used, among other things, in aircraft manufacturing. Another option under discussion is an agreement allowing American airlines to use Russian airspace for transit flights to reduce fuel costs. Thus, the economic track covers several sectors at once, ranging from raw material exports to logistics and air travel.
Differing Approaches to Conditions
As FT sources note, the parties' positions regarding the conditions of cooperation differ significantly. Moscow seeks to restore economic ties with the US as soon as possible, while representatives of the White House administration insist that the conclusion of agreements must be contingent on ending the war in Ukraine. "Economic agreements will be part of a broader peace deal that will end this war. But final decisions have not yet been made," one of the publication's interlocutors stated.
Western Diplomats' Assessments
According to Western diplomats, the main obstacle to achieving peace remains the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin: according to them, he is not yet ready to stop military actions in exchange for economic agreements with the US. "For Putin, it's not about the money, it's about humiliation and control," one source said. This assessment indicates that economic incentives, in the view of Western representatives, may not work as an independent de-escalation tool.
Context of Negotiations
Reports about the secret economic track complement the picture of the negotiation process, which, according to media reports, previously included contacts with Norway and Finland, as well as other closed elements of the dialogue between Washington and Moscow. No official confirmation from the US or Russia on these points had been received at the time of publication, so the details remain the subject of journalistic investigations and cannot be independently verified.
