Politico Learns About Trump's Special Representative's Desire to Lift Sanctions on Russia

Witkoff Wants to Lift Energy Sanctions on RUSSIA While U.S. Interior Secretary Would Rather Push Out Moscow to Make Room for American Imports Russian Authorities Call Sanctions Illegal Steve Witkoff

US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff wants to lift US energy sanctions on Russia, but Interior Secretary Doug Burgum would like to use the restrictions to boost US exports, Politico reports, citing sources.

If the US abandons sanctions against the Russian energy sector, the European market could be at risk, Politico notes. Brussels fears that Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump “want to divide the European energy market and create separate spheres of influence,” the publication’s source says.

As Politico recalls, following one of his conversations with the Russian president, Trump said that the potential for trade and economic cooperation between Russia and the United States after the conflict in Ukraine is unlimited. “Russia wants to expand large-scale trade with the United States after this catastrophic bloodbath is over, and I agree,” the American leader wrote on the Truth Social social network on May 19.

The American president, despite threats of sanctions against Russia, has already postponed the decision several times, believing that he will be able to achieve “fruitful negotiations” with Putin, reportedREUTERS . Trump expects that he will be able to build economic cooperation with Russia, the agency noted. Trump himself said that sanctions cost the United States "billions of dollars." At the same time, the president noted that "in his HEAD" there is a deadline for tightening anti-Russian restrictions.

The settlement of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was one of Trump's campaign promises. Initially, he said that he could achieve an end to hostilities in 24 hours. However, later, after becoming president, the Republican explained that there was a bit of sarcasm in these words. In June, Trump said that there was little progress in settling the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The American president did not specify what exactly he meant.

During his last call with Putin the day before, Trump called for a swift end to the fighting. Putin responded by pledging to a political solution to the conflict, but stressed that Russia would not give up on its goals. Trump later said he was unhappy with the conversation, saying he had failed to make “any progress” on Ukraine.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not rule out that the Senate could consider a bill to strengthen sanctions against Russia after completing work on the tax bill, Politico wrote earlier. The House of Representatives, following the Senate, approved the “wonderful bill” personally promoted by Trump in its final version the day before, on July 3.

Russian authorities consider Western sanctions illegal. The Kremlin has said that attempts to pressure Moscow are “useless.”

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