Media: Russia, US discuss easing sanctions in exchange for ceasefire

Russian authorities, together with the United States, are exploring options for easing sanctions against Russia, according to an informed source in Ukraine’s government cited by RBC-Ukraine.

At the same time, a potential “bargaining chip” for justifying sanctions relief could be Russia’s alleged readiness to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine.

“They want, at some point, to start with a ceasefire and try, for example, to agree on a week-long truce. And in return, partially lift sanctions. America would get news of silence on the front line, Putin would get partial sanctions relief and corresponding higher revenues. In essence, this is ‘trading’ without any security guarantees, which cannot suit Ukrainians,” the source said.

The source linked such ideas, in particular, to the upcoming US Congressional elections, and also referred to the example of sanctions relief for Belarus, where gradual easing measures were accompanied by the release of some political prisoners.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not rule out such a scenario. In an interview with Bloomberg, he suggested that Russia could propose a ceasefire in exchange for lifting sanctions on certain enterprises or reconnecting banks to SWIFT.

“For Ukraine, all of this is a major risk,” the president stressed.