According to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh, US President Donald Trump is considering lifting sanctions on Russia as part of a broader strategy to improve relations with Moscow. His administration is exploring a potential partnership with Russian President Vladimir Putin to turn Crimea into a major international resort.
Hersh reported that Trump’s main objective is to lift economic sanctions imposed on Russia in 2014 and 2022. He said a White House official informed him about it, but he did not take his name. The source stated, “The President wants to form a partnership with Putin aimed at turning Crimea into a major international resort. They might do the same in Donbas.”
Since taking office in January, Trump has actively pursued negotiations with Putin to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. His administration has indicated that it is open to recognizing Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea and parts of Donbas as part of a possible peace deal.
Crimea and Sevastopol officially joined Russia in 2014 after public referendums. In 2022, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, along with the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, followed the same. However, Ukraine continues to claim these territories and has vowed to reclaim them. Moscow has clearly mentioned that the territorial status of these regions is non-negotiable.
Hersh wrote in his opinion piece on his Substack blog that Trump is focusing on economic cooperation with Russia and viewing it as a way to strengthen bilateral ties. His administration’s approach contrasts sharply with that of former President Joe Biden, who maintained a hardline stance against Moscow. Notably, Joe Biden was a Cold War-mentality politician who saw Russia as an enemy state.
“Trump is an economic winner,” the unnamed White House official told Hersh. The president is reportedly interested in Russian energy resources, including oil, gas, and unexploited rare minerals. Previously, this week, news came about a possible energy cooperation between the US and Gazprom, a Russian state company in the Arctic.
Following a phone call with Putin in February, the US and Russian delegations met in Saudi Arabia to discuss the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations and exploring joint business ventures after the Ukraine conflict is resolved.
On March 18, Trump and Putin had another phone conversation regarding a US-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine. According to statements from both governments, the discussions were positive. Russia agreed to pause strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for one month as negotiations continue. Another level of negotiation is currently going on in Riyadh between Russia and the US regarding decreasing hostilities and war in the Black Sea.
The Trump administration remains focused on diplomatic and economic solutions to improve relations with Russia. Trump is a businessman, and he knows the importance of maintaining great economic and trade relations and how it can help repair the ties between the two great powers, which will not only help these two nations but will also be good for the global economy.
