Trump Approves Secret Deal to Ease Sanctions on Russia for Prisoner Releases
The plan, which involves potential trade in oil, diesel, and rare earth minerals, could face opposition from Ukraine and Republican allies.
Donald Trump has authorized a clandestine agreement to reduce sanctions on Russia in exchange for the release of political prisoners, a plan that could provoke significant backlash from Ukraine and Republican lawmakers. The initiative, proposed by Trump's Eastern Europe envoy John Coale, involves potential lucrative deals for Russian oil, diesel, and rare earth minerals, even as Moscow continues its military operations in Ukraine.
The proposal, which has been kept confidential, follows Trump's recent signing of legislation imposing strict sanctions on Russia and any nations engaging in trade with it. Coale has reportedly spent over a year developing a similar strategy in Belarus, where he facilitated the release of approximately 500 political prisoners from the jails of President Alexander Lukashenko in return for eased sanctions.
This groundwork, according to Coale, paved the way for a significant fertilizer deal that Trump previously announced. Coale indicated that Russia's involvement in this proposed agreement stems from the likely necessity of shipping fertilizer through Russian territory.
Washington has largely abstained from major trade agreements involving Russia since the invasion of Ukraine commenced. Coale suggested that these types of exchanges contribute to a path toward peace. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to oppose any relaxation of sanctions before the conflict concludes, acknowledging the challenge posed by Russia's financial influence. Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya warned that such swaps could incentivize authoritarian regimes to arbitrarily detain more individuals.
The White House recently nominated Coale for the position of special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, a role that requires Senate confirmation.
Trump, who campaigned on a promise to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, has engaged in numerous discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He previously hosted Putin at a peace summit in Alaska in August 2025, an event that concluded without a ceasefire. More than a year later, the conflict persists, with Russian forces continuing to target Ukrainian cities.
The ongoing conflict has begun to strain Russia's economy, potentially impacting Putin's control over the country. In recent months, Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian oil refineries and military targets using domestically produced long-range drones, with support from U.S. intelligence. These attacks have disrupted fuel supplies, leading to price increases and gasoline shortages within Russia.
