Overview

• Citing recent comments by Sergei Lavrov, ISW reports the Kremlin is promoting a narrative that President Donald Trump aims to remove Ukraine from the bilateral agenda to normalize relations.
• The institute assesses that Russia seeks to keep its war objectives intact while diluting existing and potential sanctions, especially measures targeting energy revenues.
• ISW says Moscow is leveraging Russian Direct Investment Fund chief Kirill Dmitriev to tout expanded business ties with the United States as a path to extracting concessions on Ukraine.
• On Sept. 18, Trump said it is not the right time for new U.S. sanctions on Russia and reiterated that lowering oil prices, including by curbing European purchases of Russian oil, could force a settlement.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Sky News the United States should adopt a clear stance on security guarantees and sanctions pressure without waiting for European moves.