Trump ally who said "Crimea is gone" becomes consultant to Russian oil giant Lukoil, Politico reports

Bryan Lanza, a senior adviser in Donald Trump's 2024 US presidential campaign, has been hired as a consultant to the international division of the Russian oil giant Lukoil, which is seeking buyers for its assets.

Source: Politico, citing its own sources

Details: Lanza began working for Lukoil in the last few weeks. Politico reports that the former Trump adviser and his firm, Mercury Public Affairs, are interacting with the US government over the sale of assets belonging to Lukoil.

Politico says Lanza was among those who helped secure an extension from the US Treasury Department for the sale of Lukoil's international assets.

The deadline for the sale is 17 January 2026. Reuters previously reported that the US bank Xtellus Partners is the leading contender to acquire these assets.

Lukoil's international division, which is based in Austria, owns oil refineries, oil fields and 2,000 petrol stations worldwide, including more than 200 in the United States.

Background: In November 2024, Lanza said the new US administration would focus on achieving peace in Ukraine rather than enabling the country to regain territories occupied by Russia.

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