Trump envoys offered Russia release of frozen assets and a Lukoil deal, NYT reports

During negotiations in September, US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner offered Russia three economic incentives to secure a limited ceasefire in its war against Ukraine.

Source: The New York Times, citing Ukrainian officials

Details: The New York Times notes that Ukrainian officials were surprised by how far Kushner and Witkoff had gone in their proposals to Russia.

According to officials familiar with the negotiations, the Americans offered three economic incentives to persuade Moscow to agree to a limited ceasefire, either concerning energy infrastructure or at sea.

Quote from NYT: "Washington floated releasing billions of Russian sovereign assets immobilised in the West. The money, the officials said, was viewed as an upfront incentive for partial truces, not a reward for their enactment. This revived a proposal from last year to release funds to Russia. Then, the suggestion was to release up to US$100 billion."

Details: The Americans also returned to a plan to sell a stake in Russian oil giant Lukoil as part of a multibillion-dollar deal to be concluded with a group of Middle Eastern investors, some of whom have business ties to the US negotiators.

In addition, sources said Witkoff and Kushner had revived a US proposal that would allow Belarus to export potash.

The New York Times reports that Kyiv tried not to reject any proposal outright but demanded certain safeguards. For example, it proposed matching dollar payments from frozen assets to Ukraine or guarantees of additional military aid in the event of any ceasefire violation.

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