The New York Times reports that U.S.-Russia discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine have expanded to include a proposed multibillion-dollar oil transaction linked to Lukoil’s global oil assets. According to multiple outlets, the reported arrangement would involve business interests connected to Middle Eastern executives and would be subject to approval by the U.S. government.
The reports say U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, a senior figure in the Trump orbit, are involved in the negotiations and have discussed the oil deal in direct discussions. The Moscow Times adds that Vladimir Putin raised the deal during a Sept. 5 meeting with Witkoff and Kushner at the Kremlin. Other outlets frame the initiative as tied to Trump and his allies, while emphasizing the business connections of participants.
While all accounts rely on the New York Times reporting, they focus on different elements: the business and regional beneficiaries of the oil proposal, the role of Witkoff and Kushner, and whether Putin explicitly brought up the matter during a specific meeting. No outlet provides confirmed details beyond the NYT’s claims, including the deal’s terms or timeline.
