Russia preps for sanction relief from US

On Friday, the Kremlin reportedly gathered proposals from businesses about which sanctions should be lifted.

According to online media reports, this is in preparation for ceasefire talks with Washington.

US President Donald Trump pledged to lift some sanctions if Russia agrees to a ceasefire, warning of harsher measures if negotiations fail.

Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade sent forms to companies, asking which sanctions most urgently needed to be lifted, Reuters reported.

The biggest issue for Russian businesses remains transactions in dollars and euros, Reuters wrote referencing two industry sources.

US disconnected Russian banks from the SWIFT international payment system.

This action forced companies to reroute transactions through other countries and alternative currencies.

Many analysts have said that this slows operations and raises cost.

“The most painful and dangerous restrictions involve dollar payments,” a Reuters source said.

Payment difficulties delay deliveries and complicate the receiving funds.

Without access to dollar and euro markets via SWIFT, Russian companies keep searching for alternatives through third countries.

Some Chinese banks, fearing secondary sanctions, avoid working with Russian financial institutions.

According to an online sources, this has made transactions even harder.

These sources also highlighted problems with oil sanctions, including restrictions on Russia’s tanker fleet.

Key oil extraction and distribution companies also remain under sanctions.

The Kremlin continues to call all sanctions imposed on it for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine illegal and demands their removal.

However, spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to disclose details.

“Announcing specific demands before negotiations makes no sense,” Peskov said.

Earlier, Russian business representatives met with head of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Russia Robert Agee.

The meeting was to discuss the sectors in which foreign companies would primarily like to see sanctions lifted.

Alexander Shokhin, head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) spoke with a Russian state-owned news agency.

He told RIA Novosti that the priority sector is “civil aviation, spare parts, components, and maintenance of civilian aircraft.”

The Kremlin continues to call all sanctions imposed on it for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine illegal and demands their removal.

However, spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to disclose details.

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