Media: Trump team works to ease Russia sanctions in bid for Ukraine ceasefire

US officials are intensifying efforts to ease sanctions on Russia in an attempt to facilitate negotiations towards a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The move comes ahead of high-stakes talks this week in Saudi Arabia between US and Ukrainian officials, aimed at discussing the terms of a partial truce with Russia, Caliber.Az reports via Bloomberg.

In a bid to push both Kyiv and Moscow toward the negotiating table, President Donald Trump's administration has focused on relaxing the freeze on intelligence sharing with Ukraine. This decision is seen as an attempt to bring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the table for a ceasefire agreement that would halt the nearly three-year-long Russian invasion.

Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, revealed that his administration had lifted the intelligence sharing freeze, a decision described by some officials as crucial given its damaging impact on Ukraine’s military operations. "We want to do anything we can to get Ukraine serious about getting something done," Trump stated.

The easing of sanctions could also be linked to an economic agreement between Washington and Kyiv over Ukraine's natural resources, which has been tied to securing a truce commitment. Trump expressed confidence that Zelenskyy would sign the deal, which had been previously shelved after a contentious meeting at the White House in late February.

"President Zelenskyy will come back and sign it," Trump said during a Fox News interview. His team is also exploring options for easing sanctions on Russia, including capping the price of Russian oil, as part of a broader strategy to facilitate peace talks.

Despite the US's push, Russia has indicated that it is open to discussing a temporary truce, provided progress is made towards a permanent peace settlement. However, there has been little public indication that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to compromise or that the US is pressuring him to do so. Russia is not planning to engage in talks in Saudi Arabia this week, according to state-owned news agency Tass.

A potential partial truce would be viewed as a significant step towards broader peace negotiations, possibly allowing for the easing of sanctions on Ukraine as well. However, US officials have refrained from commenting on the specifics of the ceasefire talks, as they remain closely tied to the resources deal and further negotiations with Moscow.

As Ukraine and the US look towards a potential ceasefire, discussions around US security guarantees—seen as crucial for ensuring the durability of any peace deal—have been temporarily suspended. The issue of the size and scope of Ukraine’s military, as well as Moscow's stance on foreign peacekeepers, remains contentious.

While the US pursues a path toward easing sanctions, European leaders, led by the UK and France, are crafting their own proposals for providing Ukraine with security guarantees, with a meeting in Paris set for later this week to discuss these efforts. However, European officials are increasingly wary of Putin's commitment to a genuine peace settlement, which they believe remains elusive.

In parallel, Germany is preparing to unlock additional military aid for Ukraine, with plans to increase funding to €7 billion this year, nearly doubling the amount previously allocated.

As the situation evolves, all eyes will be on the diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia, where the US hopes to push forward a resolution while balancing the complex geopolitical considerations surrounding the war.

By Aghakazim Guliyev