Sanctions for Russian energy. Trump's adviser wants to abolish them

According to Politico, Witkoff – who claims to establish “friendship” with Vladimir Putin – He was to recommend his team to write a list of sanctions of Russian energy entities, lobbying with the abolition of restrictions.

Next to him, similar influences are to be exerted by businessmen groups, including financier Stephen Lynch, who, as President Biden, tried unsuccessfully to lead the administration to the purchase permit Nord Stream 2. Efforts in the direction of the abolition of sanctions were also made by Biden's administration, a close associate of Vladimir Putin and the head of Nord Stream 2 AG Mattias Warnig.

Sources, however, told the portal that so far these activities have not gained wider support in the White House, and Witkoff is opposed to, among others Department of State and Minister of Internal Resources Doug Burgum, which heads the “Energy Domination Council”. Opponents argue that the release of the Russian gas sector from sanctions will hit American LNG exporters and their growing gas supplies to Europe.

– In the White House there is an internal debate between people from energy domination – Burgum, who wants markets for the American LNG – and Witkoff, who wants to be closer Russia – said one interlocutor of the portal. – Russia regaining the status of the main energy supplier in Europe would be a “bloody bath for American oil and gas producers” – he added.

According to another interlocutor, some in administration USA They believe that Witkoff was misled by Russia regarding the scale of US economic capabilities in terms of restoring business relations with Russia.

Politico notes that the abolition of sanctions on Nord Stream – originally imposed during the first term of Trump and cited by him as evidence that “no one is harder to Russia than he” – would make sense only if European Union She would agree to buy gas flowing from Russia again, which, according to the authors, is unlikely.