President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, stated on Sunday that there would be an expectation for U.S. companies to resume operations in Russia if a peace agreement is reached concerning the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
SIGNIFICANCE
Trump has been advocating for a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine and has conducted distinct conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy this month.
NOTABLE STATEMENTS
“It is clear that should we arrive at a peace agreement, the anticipation would be that American businesses would return to conduct operations there. I think everyone would agree that this would be a beneficial and positive development,” Witkoff expressed on CBS News’ “Face The Nation.”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned on Bloomberg Television last Thursday that Russia might receive some alleviation from U.S. sanctions depending on its willingness to negotiate an end to its conflict with Ukraine. When asked if the United States is ready to impose further sanctions on Russia or ease them based on the progress of negotiations to conclude the Ukraine war, Bessent remarked, “That is indeed a very apt description.”
BACKGROUND
High-ranking officials from Trump’s administration recently engaged in discussions with their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia, which did not involve topics related to Ukraine. Trump also labeled Zelenskiy as a dictator on Wednesday.
Read more: Lebanon Forms its First Government in Over Two Years After Years of Conflict
Trump has encouraged the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to collaborate toward ceasing the war, which commenced when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia had previously annexed Crimea in 2014.
Over the past week, Trump has faced backlash both at home and abroad after asserting that Ukraine “should have never initiated” the war, later adjusting his statement to acknowledge that Russia indeed invaded Ukraine.
Witkoff and Bessent both indicated on Sunday that they anticipate an agreement will be finalized this week regarding U.S. access to Ukraine’s vital mineral resources.
