The Kyiv Independent: Russia wants sanctions lifted in exchange for halting strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure

Filed 1h ago · Via Meduza · The Buffoon Desk

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Deadly Roulette

Kevin MacLeod · incompetech.com · CC BY 4.0

Photo: European Parliament · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Russia is reportedly asking the United States to lift sanctions and possibly unfreeze assets as part of talks on an ‘energy ceasefire’ with Ukraine, according to The Kyiv Independent's Ukrainian and American sources. Officials aren't sure which sanctions Moscow wants gone, though a European diplomat suggested frozen assets are on the table, warning that returned funds would almost certainly fund more war. Russian officials are also trying to tie sanctions relief to a Black Sea ceasefire.

This comes after President Trump announced on September 14 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop striking each other's energy infrastructure; strikes continued regardless. Ukraine insists any energy truce must be mutual with no special treatment for Russia. Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to bring Ukraine ‘new ideas’ on October 9 before carrying them to Moscow by month's end, details unspecified.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.

✒ FROM THE EDITORIAL DESK

A ceasefire that runs alongside continued strikes is just a word doing a job it was never built for. Asking to get sanctions lifted as payment for stopping the bombing you're still doing is the kind of deal only one side could propose with a straight face. The folks relaying ‘new ideas’ between capitals might want to check whether anybody's actually agreed to anything yet.

Source: Read the original at Meduza → Scored: Deadly Roulette · Kevin MacLeod · CC BY 4.0