The Kremlin offers deals, Congress threatens sanctions — and Trump in the middle

The US Congress passed a historic sanctions law against the Russian energy sector, while the Trump administration is considering an opposite approach of offering economic incentives to Moscow. The Kremlin presents business opportunities in rare metals, aluminum, and Arctic projects. The ceasefire negotiations, which have been ongoing for over four and a half years, were frozen due to the war with Iran, and a current visit aims to revive them.

The US Congress passed a historic sanctions law last week against the Russian energy sector, aiming to pressure Russia and force Putin to compromise. However, while the law awaits Trump's signature, his administration is taking the opposite approach: offering economic incentives to Russia in hopes this will lead to an end to the war. The Kremlin is presenting the White House with business opportunities in rare metals, aluminum, and joint projects in the Arctic region, and even proposed integrating American companies into the sale of Russian natural gas to Europe. The ceasefire negotiations, which have been ongoing for over four and a half years and have claimed hundreds of thousands of victims, were frozen earlier this year as American envoys focused on the war with Iran. The current visit to Moscow and Kyiv aims to revive the talks, and Ukrainian officials estimate that trilateral negotiations may resume next month, with the possibility of a limited ceasefire.