Trump considers Russia sanctions relief deal in exchange for prisoner releases - report

Trump is weighing a proposal to lift some Russia sanctions if Moscow releases political prisoners. The plan could expand US ties with Russia but faces opposition from Ukraine and European allies.

US President Donald Trump is considering a deal in which the Kremlin would free some political prisoners in exchange for the US easing sanctions on the Russian economy, The Atlantic reported on Tuesday.

Trump's envoy to Eastern Europe, John Coale, proposed the initiative "a few months ago," and "Trump signed on," the report said.

The initiative, which The Atlantic noted is "still in its early stages," would "promise to advance several of Trump's goals at once."

"It would help reintegrate Russia into the global economy and broaden Trump's talks with the Kremlin beyond the intractable war in Ukraine, which his envoys have failed to end after more than a year of diplomacy...create a path for the US to sign lucrative deals involving Russian oil, diesel, rare earth minerals, and other commodities, [and] as a bonus, the release of prisoners on humanitarian grounds could bolster Trump's case for his long-coveted Nobel Peace Prize," the report said.

However, this approach "is likely to outrage the Ukrainians, Europeans, and even many of Trump's allies on Capitol Hill," the report noted.

This is because "any potential business deal between the US and Russia would risk funneling money to the Russian military even as it continues to terrorize Ukraine and threatens a wider war against US allies in Europe," the report added.

Earlier in September, Trump signed a law co-authored by the late senator Lindsey Graham that authorized the president to "impose severe sanctions on Russia and its trading partners," the report highlighted.

Coale used his successful experience negotiating with Belarus, Lukashenko

Coale, who proposed the strategy, was formerly Trump's envoy to Belarus, Russia's closest ally. During his talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Cole achieved the release of hundreds of political prisoners from Belarusian jails in exchange for easing sanctions and promising to buy potash fertilizer.

Trump has therefore given Cole his "blessing" to do the same with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly that he would try his best to "block" any attempt to lift sanctions on Russia before the war ends, but "it's difficult."

However, Trump's envoys do not see a way to conduct business with Russia without first achieving at least a partial ceasefire in Ukraine, one of the negotiators told The Atlantic.

"Economic ties usually result in normality," Coale told The Atlantic, adding that, in his view, such deals could help bring the Ukraine-Russia War closer to a ceasefire by easing tensions between Russia and the West.

The White House has nominated Coale to serve as the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, with full ambassadorial rank and privileges, pending Senate confirmation, the report noted.

"The president and his team remain committed to continuing to play a constructive role in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, and he remains optimistic that we'll ultimately get a peace deal done," a White House official said when asked to comment on Coale's mission.

According to the report, Coale plans to coordinate his efforts with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has met with Putin at least seven times since the start of the war.

Most recently, on September 5, Putin expressed gratitude to Witkoff and Jared Kushner for their attempts to negotiate a peace deal following meetings in the Kremlin.

"I'd like to tell you that we find it comfortable to work with you, and, of course, we have a very high level of trust doing this work," Putin told them.