Overview
- Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are promoting the idea that reintegrating Russia into the global economy could ease tensions with Europe and Ukraine while opening lucrative opportunities for U.S. investors.
- Economists caution that Russia’s roughly $2.5 trillion economy faces weak long-term growth, demographic decline, and few drivers beyond energy.
- Legal and political risks loom large, with a Moscow law firm estimating about $49 billion in seized assets since 2022 and veterans citing cases such as financier Michael Calvey’s arrest.
- Interest from Western companies appears tentative, with reporting that Exxon Mobil discussed a potential return to the Sakhalin project even as most firms weigh sanctions uncertainty and security risks.
- Analysts say investors would need confidence that any thaw is durable and that commitments would be honored over time, not just during a favorable U.S. administration.