07Russia / United States · Sanctions, trade and elite power
Moscow is testing how far Washington will unwind sanctions
Facts
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Kirill Dmitriev was pursuing talks with the Trump administration to lift sanctions on the Russian Direct Investment Fund after earlier fuel-related waivers.
InterpretationThe Kremlin’s leverage is energy supply and access to negotiations; Washington’s is legal access to capital and payments. Selective relief may buy cooperation, but without reciprocal, verifiable steps it also rewards Russia’s strategy of separating US commercial interests from European security.