On October 10, 2026, negotiations between the US and Russia hit a deadlock due to discrepancies in the terms proposed by both sides. According to the New York Times, the US put forward several proposals that were not accepted by the Russian side.
US Proposals
The US proposed to Russia to unfreeze assets, allow the sale of a stake in the oil company Lukoil, and restore the export of Belarusian potash. This was suggested in exchange for a partial ceasefire with Ukraine. The main points of the proposals included:
- Unfreezing Russian assets;
- Allowing the sale of a stake in Lukoil;
- Restoring the export of potash from Belarus.
These measures aimed to alleviate economic pressure on Russia in exchange for certain concessions in military actions.
Ukraine's Demands
In response to the US proposals, Ukraine insisted on the necessity of obtaining security guarantees and additional military assistance. Specifically, the Ukrainian side demanded:
- Security guarantees in case of ceasefire violations;
- Funding equivalent to the unfrozen Russian assets;
- Additional military assistance to strengthen defense capabilities.
These demands became the main obstacles to reaching a compromise in the negotiations.
Context of the Negotiations
The negotiations hit a deadlock after a recent conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, as well as the announcement of Russian diesel purchases, which raised additional questions regarding the intentions of both sides. Amid rising tensions between the US and Russia, reaching an agreement appears to be an increasingly challenging task.