Kremlin says Russia and US discuss possible energy cooperation
In short
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia and the United States are discussing possible interaction and cooperation in the energy sphere. He declined to comment on a media report that a deal to sell Lukoil’s foreign assets is part of Russia-US talks on a Ukraine settlement. The New York Times, cited by Vedomosti, reported that the two sides are discussing a multibillion-dollar deal tied to those assets.
Read the full story 1 min read
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the topic of possible interaction and cooperation in the energy sphere is raised in talks with American counterparts, according to RBC, RIA Novosti and Vedomosti. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Peskov was commenting on a media report that a deal to sell Lukoil’s foreign assets is part of Russia-US negotiations on a Ukraine settlement. He declined to address that report directly: “I will not comment specifically on this report. I will only say that indeed in the course of talks with American counterparts the topic of possible interaction and cooperation in the energy sphere is raised,” the Kremlin spokesman said. [ 3 ]
On 3 October, The New York Times, citing sources, reported that Russia and the United States, within talks on settling the conflict in Ukraine, are discussing a multibillion-dollar deal connected to Lukoil’s foreign assets. According to the newspaper, the question of selling the assets could have been raised during a 5 September meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. [ 3 ]
The documents do not specify what forms of energy cooperation are under discussion, and Peskov did not confirm any link between the talks and the sale of Lukoil’s foreign assets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The statement confirms that energy is on the agenda of Russian-American contacts, which energy markets and companies with assets in both countries watch closely. Any link between those contacts and a multibillion-dollar sale of Lukoil’s foreign assets remains unconfirmed by officials. The documents do not specify what form the cooperation could take.
Key facts
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the topic of possible interaction and cooperation in the energy sphere is raised in talks with American counterparts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Peskov said he would not comment specifically on a media report that a deal to sell Lukoil’s foreign assets is part of Russia-US talks on a Ukraine settlement. [ 3 ]
- The New York Times reported on 3 October, citing sources, that Russia and the United States are discussing a multibillion-dollar deal related to Lukoil’s foreign assets within talks on settling the conflict in Ukraine. [ 3 ]
- According to the newspaper, the question of selling the assets could have been raised at a 5 September meeting between President Vladimir Putin, US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether a deal to sell Lukoil’s foreign assets is part of the Russia-US talks on a Ukraine settlement. The claim comes from a single source, The New York Times as cited by Vedomosti, and Peskov declined to comment on it specifically.
- Whether the question of Lukoil’s foreign assets was raised at the 5 September meeting between Vladimir Putin, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The newspaper reported only that the question could have been raised; no official confirmation is given in the documents.
- What specific energy cooperation Russia and the United States are discussing. The documents say the topic is raised but give no details of projects, companies or terms.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RBC reports Peskov’s statement that possible cooperation in the energy sphere is discussed with American counterparts. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports Peskov’s account of Russian-American contacts on energy. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti reports Peskov’s comment and the New York Times report on a deal involving Lukoil’s foreign assets. [ 3 ]