--- title: "FT: Trump and Putin Teams Secretly Discuss Return of US Oil Companies to Russia" description: "According to the FT, Trump and Putin's teams are secretly discussing the return of US oil companies to Russia, titanium exports, and transit flights. The parties' positions on the conditions differ significantly." date: 2026-10-28T10:34:11.559Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/us-putin-economy-energy-titanium tags: [us-russia-talks, energy, titanium, ukraine-war, trump, putin] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # FT: Trump and Putin Teams Secretly Discuss Return of US Oil Companies to Russia ![Vladimir Putin shaking hands with a US representative amid discussions on energy and economy](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/28/ssha-putin-ekonomika-energetika-titan/ssha-putin-ekonomika-energetika-titan-1.webp) ## Key Points - The FT reports on secret discussions regarding the return of American oil companies to the Russian market as part of peace talks - Among the discussed items are the export of Russian titanium to the US and the use of Russian airspace by American airlines - Moscow wants to quickly restore economic ties, while the White House demands linking agreements to ending the war in Ukraine - Western diplomats consider Putin's position the main obstacle, as he is not ready to trade the cessation of hostilities for economic agreements 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. ## Accounts differ ### Conditions for resuming US-Russia economic cooperation - **Moscow:** Seeks to restore economic ties with the US as soon as possible ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-taemno-obgovoryuyut-putinim-povernennya-1793182440.html)) - **White House Administration:** Insists that the conclusion of agreements must be contingent on ending the war in Ukraine ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-taemno-obgovoryuyut-putinim-povernennya-1793182440.html)) *Where they agree:* Both sides are discussing economic agreements as part of peace talks to resolve the conflict in Ukraine ## Fact-Check & Sources - [США тайно обсуждают с Путиным возвращение американских нефтяных компаний в РФ, - FT](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-taemno-obgovoryuyut-putinim-povernennya-1793182440.html) - Primary source: retelling of an FT report citing anonymous sources. Contains a list of discussed items (energy, titanium, transit flights) and differing positions of the parties. There is no official confirmation. ## FAQ ### What exactly are the US and Russia discussing according to the FT? The return of American oil companies to the Russian energy market, the resumption of Russian titanium exports to the US, and the possibility of American airlines using Russian airspace for transit flights. ### How do the parties' positions differ? Moscow seeks to restore economic ties with the US as quickly as possible, whereas the White House insists that agreements must be contingent upon ending the war in Ukraine. ### Are these negotiations officially confirmed? No. The information is based on FT reports citing anonymous sources; there were no official statements from the US or Russia on these points at the time of publication.