Kremlin memo signals possible Russia-U.S. economic deal under Trump

Kremlin memo signals possible Russia-U.S. economic deal under Trump
A woman walks across a bridge near the Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia, 5 February, 2026.
Reuters

Russia has outlined potential areas for economic cooperation with the Trump administration, including a possible return to using the U.S. dollar in bilateral dealings, Bloomberg News reported, citing an internal Kremlin memo.

The senior-level document, dated this year, reportedly identifies seven areas where Russian and U.S. economic interests could align following a potential settlement of the Ukraine war.

The report said that the Kremlin proposals suggest Russia could once again embrace the dollar as part of a broader economic partnership with Washington.

According to the article, the proposed areas of cooperation include promoting fossil fuels over renewable energy, as well as joint ventures in natural gas projects, including Siberian gas fields, and collaboration on strategic minerals and rare earth elements.

The document also reportedly highlights significant commercial opportunities for U.S. companies.

These could include reconstruction contracts, partnerships in energy extraction projects, broader access to Russian markets, and investment gains tied to large-scale resource development.

Reuters said it could not independently verify the report.

The United States had been considering potential sanctions relief for Russia as U.S. President Donald Trump sought to restore ties with Moscow and bring the Ukraine war to an end.

However, in January, a U.S. official said Trump would allow a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting countries doing business with Russia to move forward in Congress, suggesting that sanctions pressure could still remain in place.

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