During negotiations in September, U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, offered Russia three economic incentives to secure a limited ceasefire in its conflict with Ukraine, according to a report by The New York Times citing Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian officials expressed surprise at the extent of the proposals made by Kushner and Witkoff.
The report indicates that the U.S. offered to release billions of Russian sovereign assets that are currently immobilized in the West. Officials noted that this money was intended as an upfront incentive for partial truces, not as a reward for their implementation. This proposal revives a previous suggestion from last year to release up to $100 billion to Russia.
Additionally, the U.S. negotiators proposed selling a stake in Russian oil company Lukoil as part of a multibillion-dollar deal involving a group of Middle Eastern investors, some of whom have business ties to the U.S. negotiators. Furthermore, Witkoff and Kushner reportedly revived a U.S. proposal allowing Belarus to export potash.
The New York Times states that Kyiv aimed to avoid outright rejection of any proposals but insisted on certain safeguards, such as matching dollar payments from frozen assets to Ukraine or guarantees of additional military aid in case of any ceasefire violations.