The Trump administration’s ongoing discussions with Russia to end the Ukraine war now include a multibillion-dollar oil deal that would benefit Middle Eastern business executives tied to the lead U.S. negotiators, according to new reporting from The New York Times.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, have been engaged in monthslong negotiations to end this four-year-long war. In September, the two men traveled to both Ukraine and Russia to reopen peace talks.
Several people with knowledge of these negotiations told the Times that Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced a substantial deal for one of Russia’s largest energy companies, Lukoil, to acquire oil fields, refineries and gas stations around the world during his Sept. 5 meeting with the U.S. negotiators.
The group behind this deal includes two Middle Eastern groups that have done business with Witkoff and Kushner, as well as American investor and Trump donor Todd Boehly.
It is not apparent whether or not Witkoff and Kushner would profit from this deal, but the association has raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest in these ongoing talks.
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