The U.S. and Russia Reportedly Considering Post-War Joint Ventures: Energy and Rare Earths as "Olive Branches"!

According to informed sources, the Trump administration is viewing cooperation in Russia's energy sector as a key economic incentive to win Kremlin support for a deal to end the war in Ukraine.

Anonymous sources said that joint projects in the Arctic region, as well as oil, natural gas, and rare earth ore, are among the options being considered by the US as part of a partnership in a peace deal.

According to sources in Moscow, encouraged by Trump's remarks about possible economic cooperation after signing a peace agreement, Russia is also compiling a list of projects and assets that could attract US interest. These proposals are being collected by President Putin's special envoy for economic relations, Dmitriev, who has now become a key liaison with the White House.

These sources said that the two sides have not yet directly discussed cooperation plans. Any effort to restart economic relations will face significant obstacles, including the thousands of sanctions previously imposed on Russia by the US and its G7 allies, as well as the Kremlin's long-standing tradition of prohibiting foreign ownership in strategic sectors such as energy.

However, the focus on the possibility of commercial cooperation still highlights the Trump administration's "transaction-based" foreign policy style. If an agreement is reached, US companies could play a significant role in oil, gas, and electricity transmission in Russia and Ukraine, especially for exports to Europe.

Previously, Trump had pushed for a comprehensive investment agreement with Ukraine, allowing the US to play a major role in projects to exploit Ukraine's mineral resources and rebuild infrastructure.

In fact, since this week, the Trump administration has been intensively trying to push for a quick peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, threatening to withdraw from negotiations if the two sides do not agree to cease hostilities. Earlier this week, there were reports that, as part of a peace deal, the US would require Russia to accept Ukraine's right to develop its own well-equipped military and defense industry, while Ukraine might need to give up some territory.

US President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin in Moscow on Friday, and the Kremlin described the talks as constructive. According to Russian media, Dmitriev also participated in the related discussions.

In this regard, Emily Ferris, a senior researcher at the International Security Studies Department of the UK's Royal United Services Institute, said that Trump likes to frame politics in terms of reference points he can understand, such as business, and currently, the Russians are also happy to see this.

According to sources familiar with the situation, the US has proposed lifting sanctions on Moscow as part of any peace deal, though this would also require agreement with the EU, as many of the strictest sanctions were imposed by the EU. These sources said that the US believes economic incentives will be a key factor in persuading Putin to push for a peace process.

On April 20, Trump posted on social media that if Russia and Ukraine reach an agreement, "both countries can start doing big business with the US."