According to the sources, the White House has asked the State Department and the Treasury Department to prepare a list of sanctions that could be relaxed. These plans are intended to be discussed with Russian representatives in the coming days as part of broader negotiations to "improve diplomatic and economic relations."
Sources say that the departments are currently preparing proposals for lifting sanctions on certain Russian legal and physical entities, including some Russian oligarchs. Although similar proposals are sometimes drafted by officials working on sanctions, the White House's specific request for such a document in recent days underscores Trump's and his advisors' willingness to ease Russia sanctions as part of a potential deal with Moscow, the report notes.
It's unclear what Washington might demand in exchange for easing the restrictions. On Feb. 20, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the issue of easing sanctions on Russia could be considered in talks about the war in Ukraine.
On Feb. 19, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Trump administration would not lift sanctions against Russia until an agreement to end the war in Ukraine is reached.